Luh Kaca, a poor resident of Dauh village in Sawan, panicked when her son fell unconscious while playing outside her modest home last weekend.
She rushed to Singaraja regional hospital in the hope he could get free medication, as she had read about in the newspaper.
She thought that poor people like her could access to the Bali Mandara Health Insurance plan, which would cover her medical costs.
“It was all lies. The hospital informed me that there was no room for poor patients using the Bali Mandara plan,” the 40-year-old mother said.
The hospital’s staff suggested she take a first class inpatient room and forced her to sign an agreement letter which stated that she could pay the regular tariff for top tier medical services.
“I took the first class room because I had no choice. My son needed emergency treatment. I just don’t know how to pay it later,” Luh Kaca said, adding that she brought documents, including her identity card, family
registration card and a letter stating that her family had not been covered by any health insurance plan.
Ketut Selamet had a different story. He accompanied his neighbor Made Supala to the same hospital. Selamet, a lawyer, fully understood that Supala and other residents from low-income families would be given free medical services at state hospitals in Bali.
“When we arrived at the hospital a staff member told me that all rooms designated for families participating in the Bali Mandara plan were already occupied,” Selamet said.
Selamet insisted that the hospital must accept Supala and release him from any medical expenses. “I firmly asked the staff to provide the necessary treatment because I know what the program is. I threatened the hospital’s management with exposing this case to the local media,” Selamet said.
The hospital finally reluctantly agreed to accept Made Supala, who is still being treated.
“This was discriminative treatment. The hospital would play around first. Poor families with lack of knowledge and education would certainly become the hospital’s victims. This is against the philosophy behind Bali Mandara health plan,” Selamet said.
The Bali Mandara free healthcare service, launched in January 2010, is one of Governor Made Mangku Pastika’s pet programs.
Residents only need to produce valid ID and a written statement declaring that they do not have health insurance.
The Bali administration allocates Rp 181 billion (US$20 million) per year for the program.
“The free healthcare service is our most strategic move to ensure that even the poorest members of our society are still able to receive proper healthcare,” Mangku Pastika said, adding that an online system would also be installed at every state and regional hospital in Bali.
“However, this policy seemed like lip service. It is only good on paper but not in reality. It is poor people that bear the burden of policy inconsistency,” Selamet said.
Singaraja regional hospital director Nyoman Mardana strongly denied this accusation, stating that these were the acts of irresponsible staff.
“As long as patients bring all required documents, we will immediately process their medical services,” Mardana said.
She rushed to Singaraja regional hospital in the hope he could get free medication, as she had read about in the newspaper.
She thought that poor people like her could access to the Bali Mandara Health Insurance plan, which would cover her medical costs.
“It was all lies. The hospital informed me that there was no room for poor patients using the Bali Mandara plan,” the 40-year-old mother said.
The hospital’s staff suggested she take a first class inpatient room and forced her to sign an agreement letter which stated that she could pay the regular tariff for top tier medical services.
“I took the first class room because I had no choice. My son needed emergency treatment. I just don’t know how to pay it later,” Luh Kaca said, adding that she brought documents, including her identity card, family
registration card and a letter stating that her family had not been covered by any health insurance plan.
Ketut Selamet had a different story. He accompanied his neighbor Made Supala to the same hospital. Selamet, a lawyer, fully understood that Supala and other residents from low-income families would be given free medical services at state hospitals in Bali.
“When we arrived at the hospital a staff member told me that all rooms designated for families participating in the Bali Mandara plan were already occupied,” Selamet said.
Selamet insisted that the hospital must accept Supala and release him from any medical expenses. “I firmly asked the staff to provide the necessary treatment because I know what the program is. I threatened the hospital’s management with exposing this case to the local media,” Selamet said.
The hospital finally reluctantly agreed to accept Made Supala, who is still being treated.
“This was discriminative treatment. The hospital would play around first. Poor families with lack of knowledge and education would certainly become the hospital’s victims. This is against the philosophy behind Bali Mandara health plan,” Selamet said.
The Bali Mandara free healthcare service, launched in January 2010, is one of Governor Made Mangku Pastika’s pet programs.
Residents only need to produce valid ID and a written statement declaring that they do not have health insurance.
The Bali administration allocates Rp 181 billion (US$20 million) per year for the program.
“The free healthcare service is our most strategic move to ensure that even the poorest members of our society are still able to receive proper healthcare,” Mangku Pastika said, adding that an online system would also be installed at every state and regional hospital in Bali.
“However, this policy seemed like lip service. It is only good on paper but not in reality. It is poor people that bear the burden of policy inconsistency,” Selamet said.
Singaraja regional hospital director Nyoman Mardana strongly denied this accusation, stating that these were the acts of irresponsible staff.
“As long as patients bring all required documents, we will immediately process their medical services,” Mardana said.
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