TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government confirmed that it planned to use data of members of the Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) for the free Covid-19 vaccination program, particularly those subsidized by the government or premium aid beneficiaries (PBI).

“BPJS Kesehatan surely has a role [in the vaccination process] because it has PCare system, BPJS information system used in community health centers (Puskesmas), especially PBI data,” said the vaccination program spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi to Bisnis.com on Tuesday, Dec. 8.

According to Siti, the government will provide free immunization for PBI members who have no comorbidities based on data in every Puskesmas. “Because people who will get the vaccine are those without comorbidities,” she added.

As of November 30, 2020, there were 96.51 million people registered in the PBI category or 43.26 percent of the total 223.06 million members of BPJS Kesehatan.

However, the Covid-19 Mitigation and National Economic Recovery Committee (KPC-PEN) has not yet revealed the number of PBI participants without comorbidities. “The data is still being discussed and confirmed,” said Siti.

Siti went on to say that in the Covid-19 vaccination program, BPJS Kesehatan helped to provide the membership data. The medical facilities and the health workers would be under the responsibility of the Health Ministry.

Read: Jakarta Prioritizes Health Workers, Teachers for Free COVID-19 Vaccines

BISNIS.COM