MILLIONS OF INDONESIANS TO BE COVERED UNDER MEDICAL INSURANCE by Fardah

      Jakarta, Sept 4, 2013 (Antara) - As part of its commitment to universal medical coverage for its citizens, Indonesia is investing billions of dollars in social health insurance system, to be managed by Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) from January 2014.

        "The system will be implemented by 2014. Under this system, poor people cannot be rejected by hospitals when they seek medical treatment," said Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono.

         Under the scheme, the government will bear medical insurance costs for around 86.4 million poor people, while premiums for medical insurance for the working population will be paid by their companies.

         "All preparations have been made for the launch of the BPJS health insurance, which will manage public health insurance in Indonesia," noted the minister.

         The preparations include taking over the roles of other insurance firms such as PT Askes and PT Jamsostek.

         "The transitional roles played by PT Askes and PT Jamsostek, which have so far provided the necessary health services for the public, will be included in the PBJS programs to avoid any problems when the launch is officially announced," explained the minister.

         The coordinating minister said drafts of supporting regulations in the form of a presidential decision and a ministerial decree were nearing completion, as were the technical implementation programs for these regulations.

        "Poor people who are not civil servants or police/military personnel are keen to join the BPJS program to obtain health insurance services," stated Agung Laksono.

         The minister has urged the central and regional governments to improve coordination efforts to ensure that the program runs smoothly.

         According to the minister, all Indonesians and expatriates who have worked in Indonesia for at least six months should join the PBJS program to obtain health insurance.

          "The BPJS will come up with a program that provides protection against socioeconomic risks such as sickness due to old age, occupational accidents, retirement, and death. The protection is offered as a national social-insurance system," he said.

          The government has set a target of providing universal health coverage to all Indonesians by 2019. 
    BPJS, as the state-sponsored social security provider, will start its operation by January 2014 and is expected to provide healthcare services to 251 million Indonesians by 2019, according to the minister. 
    The program is expected to increase the number of Indonesians with health coverage from 70 percent this year to 100 percent by 2019.

         This program is mandatory and will include low-income families, those not working in government agencies, and foreigners, who have worked in Indonesia for more than six months, added the minister.

         Law No 24/2011 on Social Security was enacted in November 2011.  As per the law, four state-owned firms providing social insurance services - PT Jamsostek, PT Taspen, PT Asabri, and PT Askes - will be required to merge into two agencies, namely BPJS I for health insurance and BPJS II  for employment benefits.

         The BPJS for manpower, which will include injuries, retirement, pension, and death, will begin operations on July 1, 2015.

         State-owned insurance companies are required to hand over their beneficiaries to these two administering bodies by 2019.

         Prior to the full-fledged operation of BPJS for health services, the government has chosen West Sulawesi to be a pilot project for the implementation of the BPJS program on a national scale.

         West Sulawesi will begin the program in November 2013, said Minister Agung Laksono in Mamuju, the capital of West Sulawesi, in late August 2013. 
    Besides West Sulawesi, other pilot projects include Jakarta, Aceh, and West Java provinces.

         BPJS will not only provide health insurance but also build healthcare infrastructure necessary to support healthcare services.

         BPJS will ensure that every region has adequate hospitals and community health centers, equipped with proper health equipment, medicines, paramedics, and other healthcare infrastructure and facilities.

         As per the draft 2014 state budget, the Ministry of Health will receive Rp44.9 trillion.

         President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, while delivering his speech on the draft 2014 state budget and financial notes to the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) on August 16, 2013, said the government has proposed funds that would be used to build community health centers at border areas and outlying small islands.

         "Besides, the government will give operational assistance to a total of 9,536 community health centers in the country," added the president.

         He noted that the government has increased the supply of medicines and vaccines by 100 percent.

        "The government is organizing various programs and activities to improve the quality of public healthcare services across the country," said the president.

         The government has allocated Rp55.9 trillion for social security programs in the fields of education, health, and the empowerment of people.

         Deputy Health Minister Ali Ghufron Mukti, who is also the chairman of the Working Group on the Preparations for the BPJS Implementation, said 2,160 hospitals will take part in the health insurance program run by BPJS.

        "There are a total of 9,532 community health centers (Puskesmas) and 220 thousand hospital beds. We will continue to prepare for the implementation of BPJS as of 2014," he said.

       The government has been doing its best to increase the number of doctors to support the program. The number of general practitioners in Indonesia stands at 90 thousand, while the number of specialists stands at 30 thousand.

        The Ministry of Health, with the support of health practitioners, universities, and other related ministries, has developed a road map for the National Health Insurance called INA Medicare 2012-2019.

        A trial of the BPJS is set to commence between November and December 2013 in six provinces, namely Aceh, Jakarta, West Java, Gorontalo, West Sumatra, and North Sulawesi.

         Medical care is so expensive in Indonesia that many people, particularly the poor and low-income workers, cannot afford it. Therefore, the government's universal medical coverage program has been hailed by many parties.

         Said Iqbal, secretary general of the Social Security Action Committee (KAJS), which comprises 67 labor unions in Jakarta and sub-urban areas, welcomed the BPJS Law and said it is a big victory for Indonesia that deserves a celebration.

          "Finally, after all these years, we will have universal health insurance coverage," he noted, adding that the establishment of BPJS will enable poor laborers to get proper medical treatment without spending large amounts of money.  ***4***
(f001/INE/H-YH)

(T.F001/A/BESSR/A/Yosep) 04-09-2013 17:02:36