TEMPO.CO, Semarang - Health Minister Andi Nafsiah Walinono Mboi is confident that the National Health Insurance (JKN) membership in 2014 will exceed the target. Since it has been established early this year, the JKN membership has reached 119 million.

"The target in 2014 is 125 million members. The realization will probably exceed the target," said Andi Nafsiah during a dialogue with Central Java’s health care workers, at Dr. Kariadi Public Hospital in Semarang yesterday.

Andi admitted to have received some complaints filed by the providers without understanding the JKN system.

"They always complain about rates; this is actually a social health program," she said.

Minister Andi said the program needs to organize every element relevant to the program. Improvements must be undertaken in the system, such as human resource, the referral system, the health equipment and the managerial information.

Director General of Mother and Child Health and Nutrition, the Health Ministry, Anung Sugihantono, forecasted that the number of the JKN members would reach 121 million this midyear.

"Based on 1:1000 ratio, around 120,000 wards are needed to support inpatient cares," he added.

According to Anung, the Health Ministry is fully responsible to the JKN members as proposed by the Social Affairs Ministry. In addition to the facilities, the Health Ministry also needs more health care workers.

"Hospitals and Community Health Centers know better about the needs. We will soon collect the data," he said.

EDI FAISOL