Antara & Dessy Sagita – Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih has blamed the death of a baby girl who was refused treatment at two hospitals, and given only cursory care at a third, on the parents' inability to say they could not afford to pay.
Eight-month-old Nisza Ismail died on Saturday at Mitra Anugrah Lestari Hospital in Cimahi, West Java, after initially being turned away by Mitra Kasih Hospital and Handayani Hospital because her parents could not provide an advance payment to treat her high fever and seizures.
"I've checked with the mother and gotten her explanation, and I've also asked for a written explanation from the director of [Mitra Anugrah Lestari] Hospital," Endang said. "They told me that they had issued a prescription for the patient, and although the parents had not purchased the drugs, hospital staff did give the patient some medication."
The minister said that the late care given by the final hospital to the girl stemmed from a "miscommunication" between hospital staff and the parents.
"Perhaps the communication wasn't good. If the parents felt they couldn't afford the treatment, they should have communicated it to the hospital from the time they arrived," she said.
Endang added that although all hospitals were duty-bound to provide treatment first, regardless of the patient's ability to pay, this principle was not always heeded by private hospitals that did not accept the government insurance schemes of Askes and Jamkesmas.
Dr. Marius Widjajarta, chairman of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation for Health (YPKKI), said the case was symptomatic of what he called the government's continued disregard for the health and well-being of the people.
"The Constitution clearly says that the state has an obligation to take care of its people, so this is a betrayal by the state," he said.
Marius added that the government's lack of commitment to ensuring universal health coverage could be seen in its reluctance to fully implement the 2004 National Social Security System Law.
Full enforcement of the law requires the passage of the bill on the Social Security Organizing Body, but critics contend that the government has consistently blocked attempts by the House of Representatives to pass the bill.
"What we need is a revolution in the health care system. As long as the current system remains, these kinds of cases will keep happening," Marius said.