TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto asserted that the hike in the Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) premium would be in line with the quality improvement of health service.

“Of course. It should not be just an increase without improvement. This is my task as the supervisor, as the licensor for hospitals,” said Terawan at the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) office, Jakarta, Wednesday, Oct. 30.

Terawan reiterated that the quality improvement of BPJS service also depended on hospital finance. If a hospital is financially stable, it automatically improves service based on its capability.

In addition, the minister said that the government’s health budget would increase following the premium hike. Hence, the total subsidy allocated for the public would be higher.

“Imagine that 92.6 million participants [in the category of contribution assistance recipients (PBI)] receive the government’s subsidy. If it [the premium] is increased, the government makes an outstanding contribution,” Terawan remarked.

The government had officially increased the premium of the National Health Insurance (JKN) managed by BPJS Kesehatan as stipulated in the Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 75/2019 on the amendment of Perpres No. 82/2018 on health insurance dated by President Jokowi last Thursday.

HALIDA BUNGA FISANDRA