18-6-2023 (JAKARTA) In a small city in West Java province, Indonesia, empty plastic bottles are being given a new lease on life as they are used as currency for healthcare services. Harapan Sehat Clinic, located on a winding country road just outside Cianjur City, has been providing medical treatments and medicines to those in need in exchange for ten plastic bottles since 2009.
The clinic’s founder and director, Dr. Yusuf Nugraha, a 43-year-old general practitioner, wanted to create a sustainable program that not only helps others but also encourages people to contribute to the well-being of the planet. Plastic waste is a significant problem in Indonesia, where the population of 270 million produced 12.6 million tonnes of plastic waste last year. Only nine percent of plastic waste in the country is recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills or polluting rivers and oceans.
Dr. Nugraha believes that by reducing plastic usage and promoting recycling, people in Cianjur can develop a greater sense of environmental consciousness. The program may only make a small impact on waste reduction in Indonesia, with the clinic able to send up to 400 bottles to recycling companies on a good day, but its impact on the local community has been significant.
Impoverished informal workers, the unemployed, and those who cannot afford insurance premiums have been able to access healthcare through the trash-for-healthcare program. Up to 40 patients per day utilize the program at Harapan Sehat to receive treatment for various health issues, ranging from mild infections to life-threatening illnesses.
The clinic goes above and beyond to assist patients, despite being licensed to provide only primary care. When Sumiati’s daughter fell ill and she was worried about medical expenses, Harapan Sehat stepped in. The clinic diagnosed Kayla with thalassemia, a blood disorder, and insisted that she be treated at a hospital. Dr. Nugraha provided financial assistance and helped Sumiati navigate the bureaucracy to enroll Kayla in a government-run national health insurance program. The clinic also reached out to impoverished patients and built new homes for them using bricks made from a mixture of cement and plastic pellets.
Dr. Nugraha’s passion for helping others stems from his own modest upbringing. Growing up in a household where his mother raised five children on her own, he understood the burden of healthcare costs. Determined to become a doctor, he aimed to alleviate the worries of the less fortunate. After setting up his private practice in Cianjur, he introduced the trash-for-healthcare program, allowing patients to contribute to their community while receiving medical care.
Despite facing initial skepticism, Dr. Nugraha’s program has gained recognition and earned praise from the local press and government officials. Harapan Sehat has expanded, employing eight doctors and around 50 nurses and staff members. The clinic now has its own laboratory, emergency unit ward, inpatient rooms, a pharmacy, and an optical store. With plans to upgrade the clinic’s status to a polyclinic, Dr. Nugraha aims to provide better and more diverse care for underprivileged patients.
The trash-for-healthcare program in Cianjur demonstrates the potential of innovative solutions to address healthcare access and environmental challenges simultaneously, offering hope for a more sustainable and equitable future.
