Paper for the Workshop on ‘Disaster Management for the Health Sector in Indonesia’,
Bali Padma Hotel, Kuta, 11-13 Juni 2003

VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE AT SANGLAH HOSPITAL
AFTER THE KUTA BLAST (12-10-2002)

12. Money (insurance, funding, donations)²²

    The Indonesian government has taken responsibility for the medical costs of Indonesian nationals (and foreign?) related to the Kuta bomb blast. However, obviously at first the hospital did not have the consent of the government to pay for costs - for example medicines, ice - immediately after the event. So community organizations helped out as far as they were able to during the first and second day. However, obviously lack of financial movement on the part of a hospital at the moment of disaster may greatly hamper adequate disaster management.

    Volunteers at the hotline and crisiscentre were occasionally involved in sorting out procedure and data needed by insurance companies for foreign families. This proved to be hassle (bureaucracy; which institution could provide services, ambulance transport for example; who was responsible for initial payment etc.)

    At a later stage community organizations and individuals also provided significant sums from funds that were donated directly or through the bank. These funds were mainly spent on family support of victims and their families: sustainance, rehabilitation, transport, donations for cremations, burials and so forth. This was usually done on the express request of the donor. Such funds were administered by the various organizations separately.²³ Need for closer cooperation on this subject has already been mentioned.

    Recommendations: A standing national budget for crisis management from the government (no news of course). In the absence of a standing budget for crisis management, the coordination team of a hospital can indicate financial needs according to priority and involve community organizations for funding. Establish relations with local and international evacuation companies for smooth handling of insurance matters and evacuation.

    
    

    22 There have been a lot of complaints and rumours about lack of transparancy regarding donations received and expenditure by government and non-government organisations. I will not touch on this delicate subject. 23 The Bali Recovery Group still continues to maintain details of organizational expenditure by individual family and these records are updated by Bali Hati staff on a grant from USAID.

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