Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – House of Representatives (DPR) Commission IX member Saleh Daulay has asked Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin to provide healthcare facilities in order to prepare for a worst case scenario during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The National Mandate Party (PAN) faction chairperson said he does not want to see a repeat of the incident in which DPR Commission II member John Siffy Mirin died after a delay in being treated for Covid-19 because of difficulties finding an intensive care unit (ICU).
"If the cases continue to rise preparations are of course needed which are thorough, I don't want this to happen again, such as hearing that a DPR member did not get a place in the ICU as was experienced by PAN faction member and my colleague John Siffy Mirin, a DPR member from Papua", said Daulay during a meeting with Sadikin on Tuesday July 13.
According to Daulay, Mirin died as a consequence of late treatment at an ICU. He said that Mirin died two hours after finally being treated at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital (RSPAD) ICU.
"Last night he died, if fact his death was after being transferred to the RSPAD but after only two hours at the ICU he died because of the delay, the treatment was really very late", said Daulay.
Daulay said that it was this incident has made PAN Deputy Secretary General Rosaline Irine Rumaseuw propose that the government create a special hospital for government officials.
Daulay said that the proposal was made because Rumaseuw was very emotional over the difficulties getting hospital treatment.
"Because she saw herself, witnessed it herself, how difficult it is for people to survive without adequate medical assistance in the midst of this quite dreadful Covid-19 surge", said Daulay.
Daulay also related that he had a relative who also died after getting Covid-19 and found it difficult to obtain hospital treatment.
Because of this Daulay is asking Sadikin to provide healthcare facilities in order to cope with the surge in Covid-19 cases when are not expected to decline in the near future.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Politisi PAN: Saya Tak Mau Dengar Lagi Ada Anggota DPR Tak Dapat ICU".]