Hospital Full Of COVID-19 Patients, Mahfud MD: Wealth And Position Are Useless Because You Have To Queue!

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD (Photo: DOK ANTARA/HO-Humas Kemenko Polhukam/pri)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said wealth and position have no effect if you want to get COVID-19 treatment in hospitals at this time.

According to him, anyone who was exposed to the virus had to wait in line because hospitals were full due to the increase in cases.

"Now, wealth and position are of no use. Because now they are waiting in line at the hospital, there is no place," said Mahfud during the West Java Religious Virtual Gathering which was broadcast on YouTube Istiqomah TV, Sunday, July 25.

According to him, people from the upper economic class as well as officials can't arbitrarily pay the most expensive to get treatment at health facilities when tested positive for COVID-19. Because, all the beds in the hospital have been used by the patient who entered first.

"You want to pay the most expensive, you can't. This hospital is already occupied by people," said the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK).

In addition, Mahfud also said that people cannot do treatment abroad, such as in Singapore or America. Of course, this condition is different from the previous year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"A lot of money wants to go abroad for treatment, you can't do it, you can't go for treatment abroad. If in the past people had money, they wanted to go to Germany, Singapore, America, they just had to choose. If now they can't, it's closed here," he said.

So, in conditions like this Mahfud reminded all parties without exception religious leaders must unite and have awareness to face the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the challenges caused by the spread of this virus are not yet known for sure when it will end.

"In a pandemic situation where we face challenges that are quite heavy and even long enough to build awareness of the people and society, it is very necessary. The role of religious leaders, traditional leaders, community leaders and so on is very much needed," said Mahfud.

"Now the government provides various types of drugs, PPE. We just need to build public awareness, let's follow the health protocols," he concluded.