Jakarta Deputy Governor Threatens to Revoke Free Healthcare for Smokers

Source from:  Tempo Magazine (id) 03/21/2013

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama says the Jakarta Health Card will not be applicable for Jakartans who do not take care of their health.

"[Such habit includes] smoking, drinking alcohol and riding motorcycles without helmet," said Basuki at Jakarta City Hall in Central Jakarta on Friday, March 15. "We can come up with a policy that will not cover your expenses if you do not take responsibility for your own [health]," added Basuki who claimed the policy would encourage the community to lead healthier life.

To support the preventive program, Basuki said he would rely on family doctors. The Jakarta administration is exploring the possibility of cooperation with the Indonesian General Practitioners Association, University of Indonesia's Faculty of Medicine and the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital to launch the program. Family doctors will actively make house visits to study people's lifestyles. "Doctors can make recommendations about lifestyle choices so that we'll know who to educate," Basuki explained. Enditem