Monday, 8 July 2013

GOVERNMENT SHOULD FINALIZE SYSTEM OF SOCIAL SECURITY ORGANIZING AGENCY (BPJS)

Government and Parliament must finalize the plan of management of Social Security Organizing Agency (BPJS) which will be implemented from January 2014. It was intended to prevent occurrence of similar cases in Jakarta where hospitals refused the health card program. BPJS is considered good, but the preparations must be fast and precise. If not, the hospitals will be overwhelmed and it is possible that the same thing will happen again where hospitals refused the program. In fact, it violated Law NO. 44/2009 on Hospital. It was stated by Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives, Irgan Chairul Mahfiz, in a discussion entitled “Hospitals Reject Health Card and the Fate of BPJS” at the Parliament House on Thursday (5/23).

Irgan explained that the government and the parliament must finalize the BPJS system, including the amount of the premium payments to hospitals by each patient, human resources, medicines, and so on. All of these must be fast, because it is calculated on an annual basis, and not on a five-yearly basis. BPJS is a must as it is the will of the state. So, there are a lot of things that must be considered by the state.

Moreover, the budget allocated is only 2.07% of the State Budget (APBN) or approximately Rp31.2 trillion, much compared to educational budget which is 20% of APBN. Health budget should be 5% of APBN or approximately Rp75 trillion.

Basically, hospitals and physicians must adhere to ideology and nationalism in order to work earnestly for the people. The government must change consumptive policy like BLT (direct cash assistance), Balsem (temporary assistance for needy families), Bansos (social assistance funds), and so on.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament, Rieke Pitaloka, confirmed that efforts to handle the sick in Indonesia require uniformity of ideology and nationalism. To help and serve the people, especially in addressing health matter as mandated by the nation’s founder, BPJS is one solution that needs government commitment. Therefore, Parliament’s task is not just to establish BPJS, but also to encourage how the program is carried out by the government.

She also questioned the attitude of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) who once declared that the hospital issue should be submitted to the market system. If it is left to the market system, how is the commitment and obligation of the government in handling health issue? The state must resolve this problem by conducting efficiency and other budget allocations.

Unfortunately, the Minister of Health is not transparent about the data needed by the Parliament, what kind of disease suffered by a majority of the people, what kind of drugs are much needed, how much money is needed, and so on. Commission IX of the House of Representatives is optimistic that BPJS will be realized; just have a different perception with the government.

 Jakarta Health Card Program and BPJS are applicable for everyone, including people who are not working. The Jakarta Health Card (KJS) program is used by many people. So far people are afraid to come to the hospital because they are overshadowed by the expensive costs. Health problem is an interrelated issue and it needs the cooperation of many parties. (E)
               


Business News - May 29, 2013                   

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