TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) chairman Tulus Abadi responded to the Supreme Court’s ruling that revoked the Presidential Regulation No. 79/2010 on the hike of the Health Social Security (BPJS Kesehatan) premium for the independent class category.

According to Tulus, the verdict was such a joy when it was seen through the context of consumers’ short-term interest. However, when it was reviewed thoroughly, it might spark high risks for the protection and fulfillment of consumers’ rights as participants of the state insurance program.

“YLKI fears this annulment can lower the service for patients,” said Tulus in a written statement on Wednesday, March 11.

He opined it could be better if non-medical service is minimized rather than the medical ones such as replacement of medicine types and reduction of medicine dose that could threaten the patients’ safety.

Therefore, Tulus suggested President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo issues a new presidential regulation to amend the previous policy revoked by the Supreme Court in a bid to provide legal certainty.

“Because BPJS Kesehatan management claims it will continue applying the old regulation if the government doesn’t amend or pass a new one. By means, the premium hike will still take effect,” Tulus underlined.

He further demanded Social Ministry conduct a cleansing data for contribution assistance recipients (PBI) category and urged BPJS Kesehatan to optimize its efforts in collecting premium arrears of independent participants. The arrear was quite significant at around 54 percent, he added.

“The government should quickly deal with this issue so that it won’t cause prolonged disruption that affects the service,” Tulus concluded.

MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO