Over 13,000 poor people in Jember, Indonesia not being treated under health program

[News_Editor]

Over 13,000 poor people in Jember, Indonesia not being treated under health program

2010-10-14 23:26:29 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- At least 13,061 people living in poverty in Jember, Indonesia are not being covered by the Community Health Insurance (Jamkesmas) program and are unable to receive medical services from a local general hospital free of charge, local media reported Thursday.

Jember is a regency in the eastern province of Java island, and this large community of people living in poverty, are not receiving benefits of the Jamkesmas program despite being included included in the East Java Provincial Health Insurance program.

Syahroni, a local House of Representatives member, said the problem began when the Jember regency government did not distribute the Rp 4.3 billion ($482,000 dollars) funds needed as a requirement to cash the Regional Health Insurance fund totaling Rp 8,9 billion ($997,000 dollars).

“We really lament the regency administration’s policy,†Syahroni said.

Governor Soekarwo previously admitted he had not managed to abolish poverty and unemployment. “My program is indeed a people-oriented Regional Budget, but it is not in the amount of money, but in our strength to stimulate,†he said.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-10-14