Andi Hajramurni, Makassar – Lower-income residents of Makassar municipality in South Sulawesi are protesting against what they claim is the administration's "half-hearted" implementation of a free healthcare program.

In a rally held Thursday at the provincial legislature, some 100 people from the Indonesian Poor People's Association's (SRMI) South Sulawesi branch complained about the services provided by hospitals participating in the program.

Salmiah, 22, of Cambaya subdistrict in Ujungtana district, said she had taken her 54-year-old father to Labuangbaji Hospital 10 days earlier because he was suffering from acute tuberculosis.

"The hospital asked us to pay for the service, even though we had our IDs and family card with us," she said, referring to the documents required to get free healthcare services at a participating hospital.

"Because we couldn't pay, my father was referred to Haji Makassar Hospital, but they refused to treat him too."

When her father's health condition worsened, she was forced to take him to Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital, still with the nagging fear she would not be able to pay for the treatment.

"We heard that healthcare services are free in South Sulawesi, but we cannot enjoy them because of the complicated procedures applied by the hospitals," said Salmiah, whose family depends on her mother's income as a cake seller.

Husband and wife Daeng Ikko and Daeng Puji from Mangasa subdistrict in Tamalate district said they went through similar experiences of not being able to enjoy free medical treatment for their son, suffering from diarrhea.

They claimed that provincial police-run Bhayangkara Makassar Hospital charged them for medicine, including antibiotics and intravenous fluid.

The SRMI said 30 economically disadvantaged people were denied free medical treatment despite being seriously ill with a range of ailments, from brain tumors to cancer and liver diseases.

South Sulawesi Health Agency head Rahmat said the free services were available for all residents, upon the presentation of their ID and family cards at participating community health centers or hospitals.

But he added treatment rooms were limited, and there were 14 types of medical treatment not covered in the free healthcare program.

He said his office was preparing a special hospital to provide free medical treatment, but it was still being constructed.

The protesters urged the government to issue incidental health insurance for the ailments not covered in the free treatment program.

The SRMI's Wahidah said healthcare was a basic need that the government must provide. So all diseases should be covered, she said.

"It's no use giving people free healthcare if it only covers mild ailments," she said.

Responding to the protests, the provincial legislative council said it would hold a hearing with the relevant institutions, including the health agency, hospitals and the insurance company, PT Asuransi Kesehatan (Askes).