C

ampaigners have slammed the Depok city administration for its allegedly discriminatory medical services, which resulted in the deaths of two AIDS patients within the last three weeks. The patients, identified only as A and W, died after being denied medical treatment.

Samsu Budiman, an activist with the Kuldesak Foundation, which had assisted the two patients, said A had initially been given medication but then further access was denied due to his impoverished economic situation. Thereafter, his health declined significantly, leading ultimately to his death.

As with A, Samsu went on, the other patient, W, was rushed to the Cibinong State Hospital in Bogor to seek treatment as the city's health services had not provided an alternative.

'€œHe eventually died after receiving treatment at the Fatmawati State Hospital following severe complications,'€ he said.

Samsu said he was appalled at the Depok administration'€™s policy, which fails to ensure medical treatment for several categories such as HIV/AIDS, attempted suicide and sexually transmitted diseases. He said it
was the government'€™s duty to provide affordable or even free health services to all citizens, regardless of the nature of the disease or condition.