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Hospitals pressed for answers
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Questionable health: Seto Hanggoro (in white shirt), committee head of Harapan Bunda Hospital, speaks to families whose children are alleged to have been exposed to fake vaccines in East Jakarta on Friday. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
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nger, worries and perplexity became one as dozens of parents swarmed Harapan Bunda Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, to vent their frustration on Friday after hearing that the hospital was among 14 health facilities that had administered fake vaccines to patients.
The parents took turns shouting their demand to meet hospital representatives for an official explanation.
One of the parents, Desi Damanik who had taken her first son to Harapan Bunda for vaccinations said she was worried after learning the hospital was on the list of places that had administered counterfeit vaccines.
“I came here to seek clarification about fake vaccines that have been used here. I’ve heard from the news that the hospital was one out of the 14 that administered fake vaccines. I’m asking for the hospital to take responsibility,” she said.
She said that she demanded the hospital return the money she had spent for her 13-month-old son’s vaccination, which had cost her up to Rp 800,000 (US$61) per vaccine.
“My son has completed his vaccinations, including BCG tuberculosis, polio, Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus [DPT] vaccines. He received his last vaccine for measles in March 2015,” she said.
After waiting for hours, at around 1.30 p.m. parents were finally able to meet with the hospital’s medical committee chairman, Seto Hanggoro, who talked to them in the hospital’s backyard.
Seto read a statement saying that the vaccines used in the hospital were from legal distributors.
“However we ran out of vaccines between March and June. That was when a nurse at the hospital offered to provide the vaccines to the pediatrician,” Seto said.
He said the police had named a nurse, Irna, a suspect and questioned the pediatrician.
He further said that the hospital welcomed parents to bring their children in for a medical examination to check whether they had been administered with fake vaccines.
“Whether [the children] receive revaccinations or not will depend on the doctor’s examination,” he said.
“But for those who want to receive revaccination at other hospitals, they can propose reimbursement to Harapan Bunda by showing their receipt,” he said.
Health Minister Nila F. Moeloek revealed on Thursday during a hearing with House of Representatives Commission IX overseeing health and manpower the names of 14 health facilities and eight midwife clinics that allegedly administered fake vaccines.
The health facilities are DR. Sander Cikarang, Bhakti Husada Terminal Cikarang 3, Sentral Medika, RSIA Puspa Husada, Karya Medika, Kartika Husada Setu, Sayang Bunda Pondok Ungu, Multazam Medika, Permata, RSIA Gizar Cikarang, St. Elisabeth, Hosana Lippo Cikarang, Hosana Medica Bekasi, all in Bekasi, and Harapan Bunda Kramat Jati, East Jakarta.
Meanwhile, the midwife clinics were those operated by Lia in the Pelaukan Sukatani complex in Cikarang, Lilik in the Graha Melati complex in Tambun, Iis in the Seroja Complex, Mega in Puri Cikarang Makmur Sukaresmi, the Dafa Clinic in Cikarang and the Tabina Clinic in Sukatani in Cikarang, all in Bekasi, and that operated by Elly Novita in Ciracas, East Jakarta, and the Dr. Ade Kurniawan Clinic in Rawa Belong, Slipi, West Jakarta.
In Bekasi, parents also asked for an explanation from St. Elisabeth Hospital and several other hospitals mentioned by the minister.
As of Friday, the police had declared 23 people suspects in the case.
The Indonesian Health Consumers Empowerment Foundation (YPKKI) has called on the victims to file complaints and take legal action.
“We have Consumer Protection Law No.8/1999, which stipulates that every consumer has the right to receive information completely, clearly and honestly,” foundation chairman Marius Widjajarta told The Jakarta Post.
He said those who violated the law could be a subject to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to
Rp 2 billion.
Marius said that his foundation, in cooperation with the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI), had opened complaint services to facilitate fake vaccine victims who were willing to bring their cases to the court.
“They can submit their complaint and report at ylbhi.or.oid or come to YLBHI’s office at Jl. Diponegoro No. 74 Central Jakarta,” he said. (sha)
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