TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama plans to purchase a helicopter which will later be operated in Koja General Hospital, North Jakarta. “Koja General Hospital already has a helipad. So I plan to buy a helicopter,” Ahok said during an opening speech at Koja General Hospital D-building in North Jakarta on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

The helicopter could be used to evacuate residents in Seribu Island District which has difficulty accessing health facility as they are often hampered by huge waves. “I will also make an agreement with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) to borrow a helicopter for emergency situations and to be taken directly to Koja,” said Ahok.

Koja General Hospital Director Theryoto also stated that the hospital has a special team to evacuate patients via air. “Its one of Koja Hospital’s advantages. We are also fully computerized and full IT. Through a simple application that we’ve created, patients can register in just 15 seconds,” he said.

In the future, said Theryoto, Koja Hospital will develop an additional system so that when patients purchase their medicines in the pharmacy, they will no longer need to bring a doctor’s prescription.

The plan to purchase a helicopter had been conveyed by Ahok last October, but the plan was rejected by President Joko Widodo, as the central government has budgeted to purchase helicopters from the air force. The helicopter could later on be borrowed by the government of Jakarta for society purposes in Seribu Islands.

ANGELINA ANJAR SAWITRI | VINDRY FLORENTIN