Puan Highlights Poor Regional Health Services, Alludes To Extortion Of Ambulance Fees

Photo by tindakin NAPOLY / matnapo on Unsplash

JAKARTA - The government must improve health services in areas that are considered far from the standards that must be met. Health services are a very important and crucial problem for all Indonesian people so they need to get more attention.

"In recent times, there have been many cases that have attracted public attention regarding our health care system, especially in areas. It turns out that many health services in the regions are less than optimal and burden the community," said the Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, Wednesday, July 17.

As is known, last week there was a case of pregnant women in Banyuwangi, East Java, who were forced to give birth in a car because health workers were not there when she came to the Puskesmas. This incident became a concern and drew public criticism.

Recently, the community was furious with the action of decreasing the body of a baby boy at a gas station by ambulance driver Ade Muhammad Djoen Sintang Hospital, West Kalimantan (West Kalimantan) because the patient's family could not pay additional costs claimed to buy fuel.

"This is inappropriate and I think it is an act that is not friendly. The government must carry out a serious evaluation to improve health services," he said.

Puan said there must be an investigation in this case because it is indicated that there is a practice of illegal levies (extortion). He also highlighted why there was a difference between the rules and the technicalities in the field regarding the fuel used by the ambulance.

"This must be traced where the fault lies. According to the rules, it is said to use Pertalite, but then mentioned using more expensive fuel, causing problems. This is also burdensome for the community and unethical to do because it asks for additional costs from families who are grieving," said Puan.

"I hope the government and the authorities will intervene to investigate because with such a pattern, this is certainly not the first time this has happened. It should also be checked how the ambulance service system in other hospitals is like this too," added the first woman to serve as Chair of the DPR RI.

Puan also asked for stricter supervision from the Government, for example through the Health Office, for ambulance use services. Then there must also be an evaluation of the rules so as not to be used as a gap in extortion behavior.

"Even though it is done by an individual, this opens the question of whether such incidents are common in regional hospitals. Supervision must be tightened so that people do not suffer losses due to unclear rules," said Puan.

Puan then mentioned Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health which was made to improve the quality of health services, protection for the community and regulate the authority and responsibility of the workforce in the health sector.

"We have to remember what the purpose of the health law was made, one of which is for protection for the community. How to protect if extortion is still there," he said.

"Seeing the number of cases of regional health services that are still lacking, the Government should conduct an in-depth evaluation. Some must be improved for the sake of public health protection," said Puan.

The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture also reminded that regardless of the conditions and situations that occur in hospitals, patient safety must be a priority for hospital services. Puan also encourages improvements to the hospital management system that is still lacking, including in terms of providing facilities for the community.

"The lack of hospital services in the regions must be of more concern, and we are committed to continuing to supervise so that there is no health service crisis in Indonesia," said Bung Karno's grandson.

"Cases of neglect of patients should not be repeated in the future," concluded Puan.