There are a lot of reasons for many patients to seek treatment abroad such as a better service including a pick-up service at the airport.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih called on domestic hospitals here on Monday to improve hospitality and be more informative to prevent patients from seeking treatment abroad.
"Hospitals must be more hospitable and informative so that patients will not feel neglected while observation is just being done," she said.
She said there are a lot of reasons for many patients to seek treatment abroad such as a better service including a pick-up service at the airport.
The minister admitted that such a service as picking up patients at the airport could not as yet be carried out in Indonesia as the ratio of hospitals and population in the country is still small but the condition must not be used a reason for hospitals not to make improvements.
Endang said the Health Ministry is still trying to increase the number of international accredited hospitals that may be used by those seeking a premium service.
"We will start from the private hospitals first. This does not mean that no state hospital is willing. Three state hospitals have already expressed their willingness to improve their accreditation namely the RSCM and RSPAD (in Jakarta) and RS Sanglah in Bali and many others are also willing," she said.
To reduce the cost of accreditation the Health Ministry is also trying to make an international standard accreditation institute to provide accreditation.
With the presence of the institute it is hoped more hospitals in the country would have an international standard so that patients need not go abroad for treatment.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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