REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MAKASSAR -- Minister of Health Nila Djuwita F Moeloek said Home Care Car initiated by the administration of Makassar city, South Sulawesi, has been effectively reaching patients living in every corner of the country.
"Home Care Car has been very useful in serving patients, hence is worthy of being made the national model," the minister said here Wednesday.
According to her, Home Care Car has been a good facility that helps provide fast and appropriate services for communities.
"Indonesia is an archipelago country with large water territories and mountainous areas. Having a car is not enough, we also need airplanes and boats," Nila added.
Papua is one of the areas in Indonesia that has extreme geographic conditions. It requires airplanes to reach many of the remote areas there.
"So, we can use Fly Health Care in Papua," Nila noted.
The Mayor of Makassar, Syamsu Rizal MI, said Home Care Car, locally called Dottoro ta, was the city administration's idea to reach health care to communities unable to reach hospitals due to technical problems.
The car is equipped with medical facilities and medical staff. They serve patients house-to-house on the basis of reports received online.
"A Dottoro ta has an oxygen cylinder, medical monitor to check patients' health condition, and a Global Positioning System," Syamsu remarked.
Home care car is a small-sized vehicle with a width of about 1.4 meters. It is intended for reaching houses in alleys or narrow hallways.
There are currently some 48 home care cars. The administration is planning to introduce 143 more units for all the villages.
"Home care cars will become operational from April 2015. We are now preparing the infrastructure to aid the full implementation of the program," Syamsu added.