TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto considered an issue on the deficit of the Health and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) as a small matter that can easily be solved if elected as the president. Prabowo made the statement during a dialogue event with seven organizations in the health sector.

Prabowo, during his speech, mentioned that the total loss of BPJS Kesehatan amounted to Rp20 trillion. However, he did not cite his reference on the figure.

“How much the deficit of BPJS Kesehatan is? If I’m not mistaken, it’s Rp20 trillion. And that's a small problem should I lead the government,” said Prabowo Thursday, Feb. 28, at Bidakara Hotel, South Jakarta.

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The Gerindra Party chairman believed that the deficit issue could be solved, as based on the calculation done by his expert team. He would also summon health communities to learn their needs.

However, Prabowo did not detail his strategy to deal with the deficit of BPJS Kesehatan, yet noting the key problem of Indonesia laid on the leak of the country’s wealth.

He further said that Indonesia should improve the economy management to prevent the flow of funds from the country to overseas. “We have to manage our economy well, so there will not be a lot of money running overseas, and so we can improve the health sector, hospitals, schools, salary, and all,” Prabowo Subianto remarked.

BPJS Kesehatan recorded deficit since 2015, amounted to Rp5.7 trillion. The figure increased to Rp9.7 trillion in 2016 and Rp9.75 trillion in 2017. It was predicted the shortfall reached up to Rp10.98 trillion in 2018.

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