April 8, p. 7
The passing of the healthcare reform bill in the US, despite bitter partisanship at the elite and grassroot levels, generated admiration of the leadership of President Barack Obama. With the delay of Obama’s visit to Indonesia, which was to ensure the passing of this very bill, there were murmurs of why can’t Indonesia do the same, i.e. taking significant steps to secure the healthcare or overall social protection for citizens?
What’s wrong with Indonesia? A labor demonstration on April 5 reminded us that there was a civic desire for social protection. But why hasn’t it materialized into real social protection? Healthcare reform is usually part of a bigger reform in social security systems.
While healthcare is among the basic needs that should be secured by the state, the controversy surrounding its reform usually pertains to the cost of extending its coverage (either its given benefits or targeted groups) or the consequence of options for claiming benefits (given different ideological leanings or socioeconomic statuses). (By Dinna Wisnu, Jakarta).
Your comments:
The point that Wisnu makes is that the attraction of investors, tourists and innovation is not a goal by itself but a means to hopefully benefit people – the Indonesian people. And then – if that is the ultimate goal –their health is also something to seriously think about.
That sounds quite logical? He is right to say that even the US has regularly in history not practiced what it preaches (in a nearly religious manner) about free markets and laissez-faire.
The infallibility of the free market, after yet another huge crisis caused by a lack of regulations and efficient controls, is something that only ultra-capitalistic zealots can still believe in.
Even many former famous captains of that system have lost their belief as much as no sane person still believes in communism as well. It is therefore relevant to wonder whether the state should be more closely involved with healthcare, especially in Indonesia where the gap between the happy few and the rest is becoming wider and wider.
The problem with Indonesia is that it has no real strong democratic state yet, and most steps taken for more regulation have lead to more corruption, rent-seeking, meddling of religious institutions in the private life of people and the strangling of initiative and creativity.
Paolo L Scalpini
Toulouse
The point the writer tries to argue is that Indonesia needs social security. However, in explaining his argument he did not do it well.
This article tells us unparallel comparison, simplification, and against common sense (non-sensical sentences — as pointed out by another reader).
I would think 10 times over before sending my kid to a university where he teaches if this represents the quality of academia there.
Mat Karto
Jakarta
I think it is important to remember that SBY and the government cannot solve society’s ills, but at a minimum, the government should have a plan and system to provide healthcare to the medically indigent sector of society.
The budget and the government-funded medical program are factors of SBY’s philosophy of government or approach.
I for one would recommend that the government should not be in the business of running/operating a healthcare system. Its role simply should be taxation formula to fund the health budget.
Allow the private sector to contract the provisions of healthcare, reward only those contractors who practice a high standard of governance, control, and healthcare services. Cost-conscious and effective contractors will weed out the wasteful and the inefficient.
Once again, the role of the government is to determine the portion of tax that should fund healthcare needs, establish a standard of healthcare using the accreditation and licensing tool system, serve as a watchdog/control, establish a private sector system for the productive sector of the population where health insurance is mandatory.
The healthcare delivery system for Indonesia should be two-tiered, the private sector, and the government-funded programs for the poor. In the US, for the very poor, the government establishes MEDICAID, for the aged, the government establishes MEDICARE. Those in the middle are left to the private sector system.
The pattern shows the government always undertakes those that society tends to neglect. Indonesia has bright future, we can not
solve all of our problems, but we can continue to improve our current system, so that at least every newborn and child are provided with essential care.
They are the future generations that we have opportunity to provide good health bodies. Investing in their well-being ensure a great future for them and the nations.
James Waworoendeng
California
