SINGARAJA

The new provincial free health and hospital scheme, introduced in January, has led to a waiting list of up to two months for people seeking free surgery at Buleleng General Hospital.

The hospital said this week it was now dealing with 500-700 patients a day whereas before the free scheme began it was only 200-250. Most are outpatients, but some who need surgery are waiting two months for a bed.

Hospital director Dr Nyoman Mardana said free-list patients coming to the hospital under the Bali Mandara health scheme introduced by Governor I Made Mangku Pastika, were treated exactly the same as paying patients.

Urgent cases were dealt with as a priority, which often resulted in less-urgent procedures being delayed.