Gov’t Converts More Hospitals into COVID-19 Special Facilities

Minister of Health Budi GunadiSadikin delivers a press statement, Friday (25/06). (Source: Presidential Secretariat YouTube)

The Indonesian Government has decided to convert three hospitals in the Special Capital Region of Jakarta to specifically handle COVID-19 patients.

The three hospitals are Fatmawati Hospital, SuliantiSaroso Hospital, and Persahabatan Hospital.

This policy was taken to anticipate the need for patient care due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, especially in Jakarta.

“There are hundreds of new beds, complete with equipment, experienced doctors and nurses to serve the patients in Jakarta,” Minister of Health Budi GunadiSadikin said on Friday (25/06).

The Minister stated that the Ministry continues to monitor the development of cases and takes quick and appropriate steps in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry is collaborating with the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, regional governments, as well as the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and the National Police.

“On the availability of beds, especially in Jakarta, I along with the National Police Chief, the TNI Commander, the BNPB (the National Agency for Disaster Management) Head, and the Governor always communicate to ensure that the number of beds is sufficient and keep up the development of the number of incoming cases,” he said.

Budi expressed hope that the conversion of the three hospitals can be completed in the near future.

The Government has also planned to convert hospital emergency rooms into isolation rooms. Meanwhile, emergency services will be carried out in tents outside the hospital.

“We are grateful because the BNPB has been very helpful in adding tents outside the hospital as an emergency room so that we can use the existing emergency room as a place of isolation,” he said.

Previously, the government had increased the bed capacity at the Wisma Atlet COVID-19 Emergency Hospital (RSDC). The total bed capacity, which previously amounted to 5,994 units, has been increased to 7,000 units. In addition, the Minister said, the Government has also opened two new isolation facilities in Pasar Rumput and Nagrak low-cost apartments.

“In Nagrak, we have four towers, we will start with 2,000 (beds) first, but the maximum capacity can be 4,000. Meanwhile, at Pasar Rumput, we will also add the isolation capacity to around 3,000. So there are 7,000 additional isolation beds or twice as many as previously available at Wisma Atlet,” he said.

These isolation facilities, Budi added, are planned to be used to treat patients without symptoms to mild symptoms. Meanwhile, the Wisma Atlet will be upgraded to handle those with moderate symptoms while those with severe conditions will still be referred to hospitals. (DND/UN) (FI/LW)