Jakarta – The Jakarta administration's decision to change three city hospitals into corporate entities in a bid to boost their professionalism, has received a negative reaction from several hospital staff and local residents.

Fearing that the policy would reduce health services for the poor, dozens of local residents and activists protested on Tuesday at Pasar Rebo Hospital, East Jakarta, one of the hospitals cited in the policy decision, which took effect on January 1.

"We are afraid that hospital fees will increase," said Pius Toa, 57, a Pasar Rebo resident. "Any corporation by definition is profit-oriented."

The City Health Agency head, Abdul Chalik Masulili, defended the city's decision to incorporate the three city-run hospitals: the Pasar Rebo Hospital and the Haj Hospital in East Jakarta and the Cengkareng Hospital in West Jakarta.

"There is no way that this will increase costs for the poor," said Abdul Chalik. "Whatever the legal form of a hospital, its main mission is still a social one." Out of the 250 hospital beds at Pasar Rebo, 50 percent are designated as third class facilities, which are covered by the city under its health care scheme for the poor.

Abdul Chalik said that the change in status was necessary as previously, when they were government units, the hospitals were hampered by bureaucracy and staff management issues.

"The change is purely meant to increase the flexibility of management," explained Chalik. "So that they can better manage the hospital's assets, finances and staff." Siti, who has worked as a nurse for more than 10 years, said that many of the hospital workers joined the protest out of concern that the hospital would deny access to the poor to health services.

"When it was a government unit, I used to be able to go home at 2 p.m., now I have to stay here to at least 4 p.m." The city still legally controls all the hospitals, owning 99 percent of the shares of Pasar Rebo and Cengkareng Hospitals and 51 percent of the Haj Hospital.

The administration will also incorporate the three remaining city-run hospitals: Tarakan Hospital in West Jakarta, Koja Hospital in North Jakarta and Budi Asih Hospital in East Jakarta.