Hospitals in Critical Condition, Patients Left Untreated

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Medical personnel serve residents who will undergo a rapid Covid-19 test at the Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium, Bekasi City, West Java, Monday (4/1/2021). About 300 residents underwent a rapid Covid-19 test at a stadium that is used as an emergency hospital. Health services in Indonesia are currently overwhelmed by the increase in Covid-19 patients.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Room occupancy rates in a number of hospitals have reportedly reached 100 percent, leaving patients untreated. Meanwhile, more and more health workers are infected and becoming victims of COVID-19 as well.

In addition to increasing the capacities of health facilities and personnel, it is now also necessary to manage patients who can enter hospitals. “Currently, occupancy rates in several areas, especially those considered virus epicenters, is very concerning,” said Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) Mitigation Team head Adib Khumaidi, in an online discussion held by Lapor COVID-19, on Tuesday (5/1/2021).

For example, he said, up until Monday night, all COVID-19 referral hospitals in Surabaya, East Java, were full and even exceeding their maximum capacity because patients were left unaccommodated in the hallways by emergency rooms.

Also read: Regional Administrations Await Technical Instructions from Central Govt

In a press statement in Jakarta on Tuesday, COVID-19 task force spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito also said that national occupancy bed rates in intensive care units and isolation rooms had become a concerning matter. In some areas, as of Jan. 2, occupancy rates have exceeded 70 percent.

Several large hospitals have already closed the doors to the emergency rooms because they can no longer accommodate anymore patients.

“This could serve as a reminder that we are in a state of emergency, which is indicated by the dwindling availability of hospital beds,” said Wiku. In some cases, the few remaining beds for COVID-19 patients, he continued, could not even be filled due to the limited number of health workers.

East Java Indonesian Nurses Association (PPNI) COVID-19 task force head AV Sri Suhardiningsih said that hospitals in East Java were currently full. “In fact, several large hospitals have already closed the doors to the emergency rooms because they can no longer accommodate anymore patients. Many COVID-19 patients cannot be referred and end up staying in the hospital,” she said.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

A man walks in front of the entrance to a residential area in Gelora Village, Central Jakarta, Monday (4/1/2021). This region is one of the areas prone to transmission with 7 positive cases. Even so, there are residents who do not have an orderly health protocol.

According to her, a number of hospitals have tried to add more rooms. However, even these added rooms are filled quickly.

Indonesian Public Health Experts Association (IAKMI) chairman Ede Surya Darmawan said that these circumstances were a consequence of the increasing transmission rates due to high mobility of the public. “If this situation is not controlled, more people will die, and health workers will become victims too,” he said.

Health workers

Adib said the decision to add hospital beds should consider the availability of health workers, who are experiencing fatigue. “December recorded the highest number of doctors who died, 53 people, compared to the previous months, which averaged around 32 people. It is very likely this will occur again in January because we have reports that many of our colleagues are currently being treated for COVID-19,” he said.

Based on data from Lapor COVID-19, until Tuesday, a total of 540 health workers have died, consisting of 241 doctors, 175 nurses, 70 midwives, 15 dentists, 10 medical lab experts, 7 pharmacists, 5 radiology staff and other health workers.

Also read: New Cases Still High, Local Administration Cautious

Suhardingsih said that the number of nurses exposed to COVID-19 in each hospital was around 5 to 10 percent. “The risk for nurses is very high because they are with COVID-19 patients almost 24 hours,” she said.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

The officer informed the closure of health services at the Puskesmas Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, Tuesday (5/1/2021). The Puskesmas Duren Sawit is temporarily closed from 4 to 6 January 2021 due to the discovery of positive cases of medical personnel.

China and Singapore

In an online discussion at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Tuesday, Indonesian Ambassador to China and Mongolia Djauhari Oratmangun said that the Chinese government had implemented strict regulations to break the chain of virus transmission. The government is conducting digital tracking to monitor the mobility and contact history of the population.

The Singaporean government has also implemented a similar strategy. As a result, Singapore is now undergoing the third phase of restrictions, in which restrictions are being relaxed.

Also read: Wear a Face Mask, Do Tracing

“Supervision here is very tight, followed by tracing of COVID-19 cases. The Singaporean government learned from its experience in April 2020, when there was a surge of around 1,300 cases. This occurred when Singaporeans returned from Europe and England,” said Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore Suryopratomo.

Residents are monitoring the compliance of fellow citizens in public spaces. Residents who do not comply would be subject to progressive fines of hundreds to thousands of Singaporean dollars if they continue to violate them. Meanwhile, foreign nationals who violate regulations would be deported.

Supervision here is very tight, followed by tracing of COVID-19 cases.

Wiku stated that all countries must learn how to handle the pandemic from each other. “Controlling [the pandemic] in China, as a large and highly populated country, needs to serve as an example for Indonesia. Thus, the handling of the pandemic on the islands of Indonesia can learn from Singapore. This requires all local administrations to fulfil their roles,” said Wiku.

COVID-19 cases in Indonesia are still rising because the virus is still circulating amongst the public, he added. That is why it is important not to crowd, always wear a mask, wash your hands and reduce mobility.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.