Minister Doubts Sandiaga Can Fix BPJS Deficit

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Health Minister Nila F. Moeloek doubts that Sandiaga Uno will be able to fix BPJS Kesehatan`s finances in just 200 days as the vice presidential candidate said he would. According to Nila, problems at BPJS Health are very complex, so it is not easy to solve them in a short time.  

"There is a multi-factor problem that we must solve. The bottom line is that we must change our behavior," Nila said at the Vice President's Office in Jakarta, Tuesday, March 19.

According to Nila, the government has a lot of work to do when it comes to promoting healtly lifestyle.  Preventive efforts are the most appropriate way to avoid disease.

Read also: Golkar Dismisses Erwin Aksa for Supporting Sandiaga Uno

"If people do not change their lifestyle, it would be difficult," she said. "This means that spending will still be greater than income."

Sandiaga promised to solve problems at BPJS Health during the vice presidential candidates' debate. Sandiaga said he would solve the problem within the first 200 days of his administration, should he get elected.

He also said that one day BPJS Kesehatan's costs must be raised, and thus regional governments must help with handling some of the tasks of the central government's tasks.

Meanwhile, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said that the problems at BPJS Health are a dilemma. "BPJS Health must provide services to 220 million people registered, almost every disease—at very cheap costs. Surely that would cause a deficit," Kalla said.

EGI ADYATAMA