President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Friday (07/12) inspected healthcare services and facilities at Alimuddin Umar General Regional Hospital in West Lampung regency, Lampung province.
The visit was part of his working visit to ensure the improvement of healthcare services in the regions.
On that occasion, President Jokowi underscored the importance of providing advanced medical facilities such as CT scanners in regional hospitals, while urging regional governments to provide rooms for medical devices.
“Above all, all hospitals that I visit must prepare the rooms first. The rooms must be ready. Regional governments must prepare them for CT scans, cath labs, mammograms, and modern X-rays. They must prepare [the rooms]. Some of the devices will be sent by Ministry of Health this year, while some others next year,” he told the press following a coffee harvest in Kembahang village, Batu Brak sub-district, in West Lampung.
Meanwhile, Head of West Lampung Health Office Widyatmoko Kurniawan pointed out that Alimuddin Umar Hospital had served many patients, especially BPJS healthcare insurance customers that make up 80 percent of total patients, adding that the hospital is in dire need of CT scanners to speed up the diagnosis of complex illnesses.
“We are far from referral hospitals so we need to know more about illnesses with CT scanners,” he said.
A local resident, Nurhaunima, mentioned that the hospital provides excellent facilities and services. “It is excellent. I have received treatment many times here. There was never any problem. The service is good,” she said.
Echoing a similar sentiment, another local resident, Putri Arum, also expressed her satisfaction with the services.
“It would be better if there were more facilities, such as neurologists. It takes us four hours to see a neurologist. I hope the hospital has CT scan services and neurologists,” she remarked. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/AIT) (DH/EP)
