International Accreditation Evidence of Recognition

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Children with Thalassemia are receiving medical treatment at the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital’s (RSCM) Kiara Mother and Child Health Center in Jakarta. RSCM joined hands with the University of Indonesia’s (UI) School of Medicine to establish the Kiara Mother and Child Health Center.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Jakarta’s Cipto Mangunkusumo National Public Hospital, which will turn 100 on Nov. 19, 2019, has become an integral part of the country\'s health history. Starting by treating around 300 people in 1919, the hospital, which is often referred to as RSCM, now treats some 4,000 outpatients every day.

Apart from being a national referral hospital, RSCM is also a teaching and research hospital in the development of medical sciences in Indonesia.

Much of the history of health begins with the hospital located on Jl. Salemba in Central Jakarta. One of many notable stories is that of the Siamese twins Yuliana and Yuliani, who were connected at their heads before being separated in 1987.

Now, in the era of rapidly developing information technology, new breakthroughs continue to be made, from stem cell research and the use of robotics to IVF and liver transplantation. At present, RSCM is the only hospital in Indonesia that is able to do a liver transplant.

Progress in the field of health in Indonesia can refer to the RSCM.

Other achievements of RSCM are kidney transplants and nonsurgical intervention measures for gastroenterological and hepatologic disorders. "Progress in the field of health in Indonesia can refer to the RSCM," said RSCM president director Lies Dina Liastuti in Jakarta on Saturday (16/11).

As a state-owned hospital, RSCM is under the Health Ministry. The hospital must accept referrals for all types of diseases from anywhere, which cannot be treated at other hospitals in Indonesia.

Lies said many children with rare diseases were treated at RSCM. Sources of funding are sought in collaboration with the private sector or philanthropists who can provide assistance. "It\'s not easy to do. We are trying to help and give our best for patients, in line with our slogan ‘At the service of the nation’," she said.

RSCM has secured international accreditation, which proves that it not only has sophisticated tools but also focuses on meeting international standards for all patients, regardless of the patient\'s financial abilities.

However, the hospital still faces a number of obstacles, including waiting times for patients to receive services amid limited facilities. Padmi, 35, a resident of Bekasi, for example, spent a day waiting for her child to get a room for treatment after her child\'s autoimmune condition had worsened several days. "The room was always full. We just got a room, an ordinary treatment room," she said.

KOMPAS/ADHITYA RAMADHAN

The Gamma Knife Perfexion tool has been installed at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) Jakarta and is ready to operate, Sunday (28/5/2018).

Education function

In addition to providing services, RSCM carries out health education and research. Since its establishment, RSCM cannot be separated from the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Medicine (FKUI), which is located in the building next to it.

FKUI Dean Ari Fahrial Syam said RSCM was closely connected with the FKUI. Most of the doctors at RSCM started at FKUI. "A number of internationally recognized doctors are from FKUI who then made a professional career at RSCM. Various results and innovative products have been produced," he said.

FKUI professor of urology Akmal Taher, who was the director of RSCM from 2005 to 2013, said the strength of RSCM lay in the spirit of serving and assisting the public in any field, whether health services, education or research.

"Support of all parties is needed so that the progress of RSCM can continue another 100 years. The [collaboration with the] private sector is very important for the development of research and innovation needed by this nation," he said.

Akmal added that RSCM was never replaced in its functions despite the emergence of many other specialized hospitals, such as cancer hospitals, brain hospitals and heart hospitals. This was because RSCM was able to provide integrated and comprehensive services. This was important because health services in complex cases should not only be provided in one division but by various divisions working together.