BPJS Kesehatan Deficit, Govt: Premium Increase Not an Option Yet

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Presidential Special Staff for Economics Ahmad Erani Yustika said the premium increase was not a solution yet for the deficit issue at the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan). The government is still debating the right strategy to deal with the problem. 

Erani mentioned the government expected a systemic settlement. “So, building a well-established system,” he said in Cikini, Jakarta, Thursday, Oct. 18.

A suggestion to increase the premium had been discussed, but the government did not only focus on the matter, Erani added. The government must assure all community have access to health insurance, provide immediate service at affordable price, make sure BPJS Kesehatan able to perform its duty and understand the role of stakeholders such as doctors and hospitals.

Read: Jokowi Regretted Rising Healthcare Claims

After three years operating, Erani said the talks on ways to solve the financial issue of BPJS Kesehatan was still afoot. “I think the most important is how we build a credible decision, and that is one of the government’s priorities in all sectors, a depth analysis is required,” he noted.

Erina claimed he did not know when the government would make a decision regarding the deficit suffered by BPJS Kesehatan. However, President Jokowi’s speech on Wednesday, Oct. 17, could be a trigger to solve this problem.

VINDRY FLORENTIN