Lucky you who have easy access to health services. You should be grateful, if not, yes, it’s too much. You can still feel how to get treatment without thinking about the costs that will be incurred. Then, the distance from your house to the hospital or health clinic is also close and easy.
The opposite was experienced by a middle-aged woman from Banjarnegara, Central Java, and her family. I met her by accident during a visit to the Sehati Shelter at Nogosaren Kidul No. 198 B, Nogotirto, Gamping sub-district, Sleman district, Yogyakarta, on January 20, 2024. At that time, she was undergoing treatment for cervical cancer at Sardjito Hospital, which had been diagnosed a year earlier.
“Original daleme pundi, ma’am?” I asked after a few pleasantries.
“Banjarnegara, ‘Nak!” she replied.
Actually, she mentioned her residence completely, right down to the name of the village, even the name of the community leader there. She’s a typical emak-emak who likes to talk like that. But here I don’t want to mention it in full, only up to the name of the district, for reasons of vulnerability and safety of the source. I’m also sorry if I don’t mention her mother’s name. Of course the reason is the same: vulnerability and security. There will also be a photo of one of her children below, but I’ve blurred it.
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During her stay at the patient center in Yogya, the mother was accompanied by her son. She actually has three children, but they take turns taking care of her. Because each of them also has a job and a family to support.
So, the mother has been in the shelter since the end of December 2023. Maybe it’s been about 3-4 weeks, yes, that means. Well, every week, her children take turns accompanying the mother.
Actually, the mother and her children have gone back and forth between Banjar-Yogya-Banjar several times. Anyway, it depends on the schedule of action and the results of the control. If it’s still a long time, it’s better to go back to Banjar first. If it was only a few days away, they chose to stay in shelter houses. Incidentally, at that time they stayed at Shelter Sehati, a shelter house owned by Dompet Dhuafa Yogyakarta.
“Usually, when we go for treatment like this, we stay at the patient shelter near Sardjito Hospital. Incidentally, it was full there. We looked for an alternative from the ambulance driver at the shelter, (then) directed to Dompet Dhuafa. While here, it is cool, cool. Mom said it was also comfortable here,” explained the child.
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He also said that at first his mother was referred to Banjarnegara Regional Hospital. Then she was referred again to Margono Purwokerto Hospital. There happened to be a resident doctor there who was also a doctor at Sardjito Hospital. After that, she was referred and observed at Sardjito Hospital, until she continued to undergo treatment there.
In addition to the gratitude that continues to be uttered on the lips of this family, yes, there must be something in the mind of the heart that wants to complain. That’s human nature.
It’s true, mom is a BPJS participant, so her treatment is free. But that’s just the treatment. Meanwhile, the cost of transportation, the cost of daily meals, the cost of housing if the hospital is far from home, all of that still has to come out of pocket. Just pay for the parking lot.
The child said that a lot of money had been spent on the mother’s treatment. Thankfully, we can stay at the Sehati Shelter, which is all free. From housing, daily meals, ambulance transportation back and forth to the hospital, sometimes there are also medical personnel from Dompet Dhuafa’s Free Health Services (LKC) who control the patient’s condition at the shelter. Supporting intake, such as vitamins and general medicines are also provided free of charge, even laundry facilities are provided.
“I’m really grateful to have a place in this shelter,” said the child.
The provider of this patient shelter, Dompet Dhuafa, does not charge any fees from each patient or companion who stays overnight. They are allowed to stay as long as they need. There are 10 rooms/beds available, consisting of five standard rooms, four rooms for pediatric patients, and one special room. The halfway house also has a shared kitchen, bathroom, drying area, and other facilities for home needs. In addition, the shelter also has two ambulance units (patient and corpse) for patient pick-up and drop-off.
There, I also talked a lot with Mr. Selamet Widodo, one of the ambulance drivers at the shelter. The point I remember the most, is why this halfway house can be free and even have many facilities in it. Mr. Selamet said, it’s because this shelter is the result of the management of zakat, infaq, and sadaqah funds entrusted by the muzaki. This kindness can be realized with the trust of the entire community, especially the donors and beneficiaries.
There are actually many stories and complaints from the patients in this shelter. Yes, of course it varies. But for sure, the commonality is that they both complain about the cost of transportation, accommodation, and consumption while undergoing treatment, especially if they are referred to a hospital far from home. Maybe this can be an input point for the government to add other benefits to the BPJS program to also cover transportation costs and others. Yes, although not everything, at least some of it. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photo: Riza Muthohar
Editor: Dhika Prabowo