Iswahyudi
Struggle to Become a Doctor with Diligence and Limitations
Doctor Yusuf Nugraha is a nearly perfect figure—a successful doctor, sociopreneur, motivator, nationalist, and religious individual. A complete set of qualities can be attributed to him, making him a doctor with extra credentials. However, delving into his journey before becoming a doctor reveals numerous poignant, sad, and challenging stories. Difficulties, suffering, and the bitterness of life have shaped his character like a diamond.
Growing up as one of five siblings, Yusuf's parents divorced when he was just 5 years old. Raised solely by his mother, Duning Burdaningsih, a Civil Servant, Yusuf's mother can be considered a powerful woman. She single-handedly raised her five children, determined to make them all scholars.
With only a salary as an elementary school teacher, Yusuf's mother, despite her limitations, was committed to ensuring all her children would become scholars. Every month, Duning would allocate her earnings to her five children, dividing it according to their needs. At the time, Duning's salary was only Rp 750,000.
"Allocated for school fees and other living expenses. If it wasn't enough, my mother would borrow from the cooperation, pay in installments, so everything was transparent. We also sold the rice allocated for civil servants for additional income," Yusuf reminisces. This modest financial situation became heart-wrenching when any family member fell ill, leading to additional expenses and frantic borrowing.
It was these circumstances that motivated young Yusuf to become a doctor. He realized this ambition by enrolling in the Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani. However, financial challenges arose once again. Yusuf had considered abandoning his dream of becoming a doctor due to these obstacles. The family gathered, and Yusuf's mother and four siblings ultimately decided to support his dreams. They decided to mortgage the house they lived in to fund Yusuf's education.
Feeling a sense of responsibility, Yusuf didn't linger in his studies. He completed them on time, even working part-time during medical school to supplement his finances. From selling bottled tea to handmade doctor's bags, Yusuf did what it took. Throughout his studies, Yusuf lived in a dormitory, with annual expenses of Rp 600,000. For meals, he received Rp 20,000 per month and rice. All the hardships further solidified Yusuf's determination to give back to others when he officially became a doctor and established his own clinic.
Establishing the "Harapan Sehat" Clinic and His Social Actions
Yusuf opened his own clinic after serving for a year in East Nusa Tenggara in 2007 and obtaining practice certification. After discussing with his mother, Yusuf established the clinic in their home in Sukasari Village, Cilaku District, Cianjur Regency, West Java, Indonesia. The initial capital for setting up the clinic was only Rp 700,000, most of which was spent on medicines, and the rest on a stethoscope and supporting equipment.
Remembering the difficulties of affording medical care during his youth, Yusuf endeavored to provide free medical treatment to those who couldn't afford it. He was aware that the economic conditions of the people around him were not favorable. One day, a patient who couldn't afford the treatment came to his clinic. After the treatment, the patient tried to give Yusuf Rp 10,000. Yusuf automatically refused, but the patient insisted, saying, 'No, doc, I've been saving this money for a long time, and I want to pay.'
From this experience, Yusuf learned that when giving something to someone, one should not compromise the person's dignity and pride. He decided that if he wanted to give something, it should be done with art, including waiving the medical fees. Yusuf reached an agreement with his wife, Dewi Kartikasari. They combined giving with environmental issues. Dewi, passionate about social and environmental issues, collaborated with Yusuf.
"We combined giving with environmental issues. From there, we thought that the current problem in Indonesia is about the environment, especially plastic waste. We know that it takes 450 years for plastic bottles to decompose, and it severely damages the environment," explained Dr. Yusuf.
Many doubted that the "Harapan Sehat" Clinic would survive. However, the clinic in Sukasari Village, Cilaku District, has now been in operation for over 10 years, having grown rapidly. Yusuf expanded the clinic to the front, including reception and outpatient areas, and even to the back of the house by purchasing adjacent land. The clinic now occupies approximately 1,000 square meters. Yusuf is no longer the only medical staff member; he has a team of 50 employees.
When the clinic first started in 2008, it only occupied a 3 x 2-meter room in one of Yusuf's brother's houses in his hometown. "At that time, the employees were just me, my wife, my mother, and one pharmacy employee," said the 36-year-old doctor, a graduate of Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani in Cimahi.
Recalling the early days of establishing the clinic and providing free treatment to those in need, even though it was free, the clinic struggled. This continued for a year since the clinic first opened. Yusuf remained unwavering, consistently convincing the community that what he was doing was genuinely aimed at helping the people. He regularly engaged with the community, offering free medical services while promoting environmental awareness. Slowly but surely, his efforts paid off. Now, around 330,000 patients have received healthcare services by bringing 10 used plastic bottles. An average of 20-30 financially disadvantaged individuals seek treatment at the clinic every day.
The collected bottles are utilized to create crafts such as flower vases, decorative lamps, and other accessories, empowering the local community, especially women, through the Gerakan Bagi Senyum Ibu Pertiwi (Movement for the Smile of Mother Earth) community. Under this community, Yusuf strives to provide education on nationalism and offers training on utilizing used plastic bottles. The goal is to boost the local economy. In essence, what Yusuf is doing is a program with three simultaneous benefits: free medical treatment, environmental care, and economic empowerment.
Yusuf explains that environmental issues are linked to health. If the environment is dirty, the health quality of the population will be poor. Similarly, poor health conditions are related to poverty. Thus, addressing and resolving these issues cannot be done from a single aspect. "So, the concept I apply is strengthening nationalism. We must help those who cannot afford health services. The country also needs our help to overcome plastic waste issues," emphasizes Yusuf.
He also emphasizes that nationalism is one of the focal points in the social movement he is running. This is because our ideological index is weak in terms of nationalism. Considering this, even for those unable to pay, they will still receive free healthcare, albeit without bringing plastic bottles. "Perhaps because it's a bit complicated to bring many plastic bottles. So, it's enough to sing the national anthem and recite the Pancasila pledge," Yusuf says with a smile.
Is it not a loss to run a free medical practice only paid for with plastic bottles? Yusuf states that in the 11 years of operation, he has not experienced any losses. "I made a well-thought-out plan on the number of patients using plastic bottles and general patients who pay according to their abilities. So, the principle is to use the concept of 'everything will be easy.' I also have to run the clinic professionally to be able to continue paying employees and cover daily living expenses. With planning and professional execution, the results can meet our expectations," he explains.
Nevertheless, the clinic's operations continue to run smoothly because there is, in fact, cross-subsidization from patients who can afford to pay more. The surplus is used to cover the medical expenses of patients who cannot afford it. Yusuf hopes that the concept he is implementing can be adopted elsewhere and even by the government. He means that recipients of the Health BPJS assistance, when seeking treatment at a clinic or health center, should not be entirely free.
"At least, they should do something like what I apply at the clinic by bringing plastic bottles, singing the national anthem, or reciting the Pancasila pledge," he hopes.
Meanwhile, Yusuf also encourages fellow professionals, especially doctors, to do something that has added value and is beneficial to society and the country, even if it seems simple. In addition, Yusuf has initiated other social programs, such as sharing food with the homeless every Friday night, an ambassador program against free sex and anti-drugs for high school students. All these initiatives are summarized under the Gerakan Bagi Senyum Ibu Pertiwi (Movement for the Smile of Mother Earth).
His latest program is Malinda (Fighting Land Leeches). Yusuf acknowledges the issue of loan sharks as a real problem in the lower-income segments of society. Even though the 25% monthly interest rate on loans from loan sharks is detested, people still seek them out due to demand. Small communities find it difficult to access banking services due to administrative and collateral issues, thus falling into the trap of loan sharks. Yusuf believes that it is essential to take action to help the community. The Harapan Sehat Clinic is determined to assist the community through the Malinda program—soft loans for small businesses without administrative fees, interest, and a repayment period according to their capabilities.
"One of the programs to help alleviate poverty by Dr. Yusuf Nugraha: 'If Unable to Become a Pencil to Write the Happiness of Others, Be an Eraser for the their Suffering.'
"The funding for this program comes from the surplus of well-off patients who seek treatment at the Harapan Sehat clinic, as a portion of the clinic's profits is channeled into social activities and helping patients who cannot afford it," he writes on his Instagram account, @yusufnugraha81.
Yusuf is convinced that whoever makes things easy for someone in difficulty, surely God will make things easy for them in this world and the hereafter. As a Muslim, Yusuf believes in this. He also hopes that other clinics will adopt a similar system.
"With this system, I can still travel abroad with my family. So, don't be afraid that this system will cause losses," he says.
The recognition of being the best clinic in Cianjur and West Java from the district and provincial governments last year is also evidence of success. "(The award) is a bonus for what we have been doing all this time," says Yusuf.
"Until now, I have never hoped or aspired to receive the Satyalencana award from the state. For me, sharing love and humanity is a mandatory thing to do as a fellow human being without thinking selfishly. Receiving appreciation and awards, then, is something to be thankful for, but once again, for me, awards are not a goal because the ultimate goal is usefulness. I express my gratitude to the country and the President of Indonesia for the Satyalancana Kebaktian Sosial 2019 award, which was presented by the Vice President of Indonesia in Banjar Baru, South Kalimantan, at the peak of the national social solidarity day celebration. Indeed, it is not because I am deserving of this Social Service Award, but it is because Allah has facilitated my affairs," writes Yusuf Nugraha on his Instagram.