Verawaty Fajrin has received the decent medical care she deserved. She can now smile again, but her case has raised concerns about the government’s health scheme for former national athletes.
By
ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH/NINA SUSILO
·5 minutes read
DOKUMEN KEMENPORA
Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali visits badminton legend Verawaty Fajrin who has lung cancer at Dharmais Cancer Hospital, Jakarta, Monday (20/9/2021). The government through President Joko Widodo and the Ministry of Youth and Sports pay attention to Verawaty Fajrin\'s recovery.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Indonesian badminton legend Verawaty Fajrin, was reportedly relieved on receiving assistance from President Joko Widodo, the Youth and Sports Ministry and the Jakarta Dharmais Cancer Hospital. Although she was still weak, she was stronger after undergoing her cancer treatment.
The government assistance, while deserving appreciation, indicates the urgency for sports authorities and organizations to establish a health security system for athletes and former athletes.
“Verawaty and [our] family are much more settled now, apart from [the fact] that she still feels weak from chest pain and a cough that has not disappeared yet,” her husband Fadjriansyah said when contacted on Tuesday (21/9/2021).
“At least we are no longer burdened with medical [bills], as everything has been guaranteed by the government. This is very helpful to keep Verawaty strong during her treatment."
Verawaty was diagnosed with lung cancer in March 2020. Born in Jakarta on 1 Oct. 1957, she had undergone five chemotherapy treatments at Persahabatan Central General Hospital in Rawamangun, East Jakarta, before she was transferred to Dharmais Hospital on 29 July, thanks to the sports and health ministries.
Her condition improved, so she was released for outpatient treatment before her condition worsened and she was readmitted to Dharmais on 17 Sept.
She was transferred from a transit care room to a VIP room on Monday (20/9), but only after the government intervened with its assistance.
His wife was only given regular IV fluids in the transit care room, according to Fadjriansyah. However, since she had been transferred to the VIP room, she received immediate special treatment and was given an IV infusion that contained medicine. She was given a thorough MRI scan of her chest and stomach.
“Verawaty is now able to communicate more actively. We hope she will receive the best treatment until she is healthy again," Fadjriansyah said.
Kompas
Australia Zone Uber Cup Badminton Match at Istora Senayan 1980. A match between Indonesia and New Zealand. Picture of Indonesian couple Imelda Wiguna (front) with Verawaty Fajrin.
Fighting for treatment
A former national star, Verawaty’s treatment so far had relied on the government’s health care and social security scheme (BPJS), under which she has second-class, self-paid coverage.
Fadriansyah said they often had to pay for expensive medicines that were not covered under the BPJS scheme, such as supplements to boost her strength, which cost Rp 2 million per box containing a 10-day dose. They also spent Rp 9 million for less than a month’s worth of herbal medicines and honey.
The high medicinal costs forced the family to take out a bank loan. Fadjriansyah said he once thought to auction off the racket and clothes Verawaty used when she won the 1979 All England Open Badminton Championships.
“I would have auctioned off the racket Verawaty used when she won the All England in 1979, because we needed money for her treatment. However, she loved the racket too dearly. In the end, I decided against the idea,” he said.
The government is committed to providing the best treatment and bearing all expenses for Verawaty\'s treatment, according to the Presidential Secretariat head Heru Budi Hartono, who visited Verawaty on Monday. He said the President conveyed his best wishes and prayers for Verawaty\'s recovery.
Heru also brought Rp 100 million in cash assistance from the President, who reported asked the sports and health ministries to ensure that Verawaty received the best care while in the hospital.
Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali also visited Verawaty, who is under the care of a team of specialist doctors.
"I assure the family and the Dharmais Hospital president director that the government is covering everything for Verawaty’s treatment," Zainudin said.
Dharmais Hospital president director Dr. R. Soeko Werdi Nindito said the specialist team consisted of pulmonologists, hematologists, nutritionists, and several other experts.
DOKUMENTASI PRIBADI ROSIANA TENDEAN
The 1980 women\'s singles badminton world champion, Verawaty Fajrin, is lying in the Dharmais Hospital in Jakarta, suffering from lung cancer.
Health security system
In her heyday, Verawaty won many prestigious titles for Indonesia. She won the 1979 All England with women’s doubles partner Imelda Wiguna. She went on to win the women\'s singles title at the 1980 IBF World Championships.
She contributed a women’s doubles gold as part of the Indonesian delegation to the 1987 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Jakarta, this time paired with Rosiana Tendean. She changed partners in 1988 to become the Indonesian champion with Ivana Lie.
Verawaty also helped Indonesia win the 1989 Sudirman Cup in Jakarta, the inaugural tournament of the World Mixed Team Badminton Championships, this time with Eddy Hartono.
Former doubles partner Rosiana said that Verawaty, as a former high-achieving athlete, deserved decent health insurance of at least BPJS class 1. The government is urged to build a system so that former outstanding athletes who made the country proud had access to the health insurance they deserved in retirement.
The sports organizations must also be more active in registering their athletes and former athletes to access health facilities.
“With a system like this, former athletes are assured of healthcare services. They will no longer have to work hard [to obtain] treatment like Verawaty did. Besides Verawaty, there may be other former athletes who are going through the same ordeal that has slipped through the monitoring," said Rosiana.
Sports observer Fritz E. Simanjuntak also called for sports organizations to provide better care for their former athletes.
“The responsibility for the health insurance of athletes and former athletes cannot all be borne by the government. The sports organizations must also be more active in registering their athletes and former athletes to access health facilities. They can do this by cooperating with athletes associations so they can access decent BPJS health services," he said.
