In Reply to: Yes but she is not a Bule. posted by jerotoo on Thursday, 31. July 2014 at 15:47 Bali Time:
but if you are referring to the rice farmers daughter working on the beach then she has access to medical care, the OP's friend if asking for money for relative in hospital has access to medical care.
What we should all be more concerned about is those living remote areas and without transport and therefore cannot reach medical care.
I had a lady 3 weeks ago who the only reason we could get her to hospital (17 days at BMC - free) was as she was unconscious, she was too scared to go (has never left her village her whole 68 years). Older and some younger remote Balinese believe in curses, the devils work, past life stuff and they are the ones that when really need it and don't get help. They generally don't even ask for it.
But if a Balinese you know is asking to pay for medical bills, then I would advise saying no (but that is up to you). I have even heard of Doctors and Hospitals making fake bills for kind hearted tourists to pay and splitting the cost, sorry but that's a reality so ringing the hospital is fine, but ask first, does my friend have JKPM card? They will work out pretty quickly that you know more than the last person they fooled. You can offer to pay for transport there, food and some extra medicine if they need it, but if you are not in Bali and just getting an email I'd say no.