House Urged to Endorse Nursing Bill

Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar | Archipelago | Tue, October 16 2012, 10:02 AM
Hundreds of students from nursing academies in Makassar, South Sulawesi, rallied on
Monday at the citys overpass and provincial legislative council, demanding that the House of
Representatives (DPR) immediately pass the draft nursing law.
The protesters expressed their unhappiness at the Houses sluggishness in completing its
deliberations on the draft law, as the session period approaches.
Oct. 17 is the final day of the Houses current session. Thats why we are urging the House to
approve the nursing bill before the period ends, said the rallys coordinator, Desrianto.
According to him, the draft nursing law was a crucial piece of legislation that should
immediately be passed so that nurses would be protected by a legal umbrella when carrying out
their healthcare duties as well as being clear about their rights as health staff.
As of now, nurses are regarded as doctors aides. Many doctors duties are delegated to them,
including giving injections and installing intravenous drips and catheters. Nurses have been
carrying out these tasks due to the absence of a regulation stipulating their rights and
obligations, said Desrianto.
Their welfare also remains a concern. Currently, nurses are treated unfairly in the
distribution of incentives, such as medical service allowances. Disparities in allowances given to
doctors as opposed to nurses are quite wide despite the often longer hours worked by nurses.
We are not demanding the same salary and benefits as doctors, as we also appreciate their
capacity. But, please distribute medical service allowances transparently, and determine
percentages so that these can serve as reference points in every hospital and community health
clinic, said Desrianto. Besides addressing the crowd during the rally, which was initiated by the
South Sulawesi chapter of the Indonesian Nursing Students Association (HMKI), they also
unfurled banners and distributed pamphlets calling for the immediate passing of the nursing law.
After the protest rally ended, the trainee nurses dispersed in an orderly manner, but they vowed
to take to the streets again on Wednesday in larger numbers. Such rallies have become more
common across the country during the past few years.
In Jakarta, the Indonesian Nurses Association (PPNI) staged a rally in front of the
House complex in 2010 to push for prioritized deliberations of a nursing bill. In 2009, at least
300 nurses and nursing students from the PPNIs Purwekerto branch also staged a protest,
demanding the same thing.


















http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/health/north-jakarta-workers-hospital-to-open-in-
six-months-dahlan/573316
North Jakarta 'Workers' Hospital to Open in Six Months: Dahlan
ID/ Agustiyanti | February 22, 2013
The Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises broke ground on a new hospital aimed at
serving workers in the Nusantara special economic zone in Cakung, North Jakarta, on Friday.
The Rp 110 billion ($11.3 million), 184-room hospital is being constructed by Binakarya,
Nindya Karya, and Indrakarya and has been bankrolled entirely by corporate social
responsibility funds from numerous state-owned companies, said Muhammad Sattar Taba, the
president director of the Nusantara special economic zone. Sattar said the hospital would be
ranked as a C-class facility, but will offer patients the same care as B-class centers.
The hospital is expected to open in six months, State-Owned Enterprises Minister
Dahlan Iskan said. The permit, the land and the equipment are all ready, he said. There is
no reason for this construction to be delayed. Even [South Jakartas] Hotel Mulia, which is so
tall and luxurious, can be built in only eight months.
The hospital was inspired by similar facilities available to workers in the Batam
industrial zone. Workers holding a Jamsostek card will be able to use this facility, Dahlan
said. Residents can also use the facility by using their Jamkesmas or Jamkesda cards, he
added referring to various state-run health insurance programs.
The hospital will be constructed without special VIP rooms to allow more beds for
regular customers in the general ward, he said. Company executives seeking treatment at the
hospital will have to use the second-class facilities available at the hospitals.