Governor Djarot Calls for Hospital Probe after Baby Debora Death

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat has called on the Health Office to probe into Mitra Keluarga Hospital after the death of baby Debora. “Whether or not there was any violation [by the hospital] in handling patient,” he said today.

Governor Djarot said that hospitals must prioritize patients’ lives first and foremost regardless of their inability to pay for treatment fees. “If indeed she was not enrolled in the BPJS (Social Security), once the patient was stable, she could have been enrolled. If it [hospitals] was profit-oriented, that’s not right, it’s a deviation,” he said.

Djarot said that Jakarta Health Office is slated to meet Mitra Keluarga Hospital directors to demand an explanation on the health care of baby Debora. “I’ll wait for a complete report [of the meeting],” he said.

Four-year old Tiara Debora had suffered respiratory problem on September 3 and was admitted to Mitra Keluarga Hospital, West Jakarta.

The hospital management treated the baby at the intensive care unit (ICU). Baby Debora should have received pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) but did not get one since her parents could not pay for the down payment amounting to Rp19 million.

The parents had tried to find another hospital to treat their child. But baby Debora died before they manage to do so.

CHITRA PARAMAESTI | DEWI NURITA