Task force set up to monitor JKN program

Five medical profession associations and the Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) for the health sector have set up a task force to monitor the newly-launched national health insurance (JKN) program.

The five organizations, the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI), the Indonesian Dentists Association (PDGI), the Indonesian National Nurses Association (PPNI), the Indonesian Pharmacists Association (IAI) and the Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI), said that the monitoring of the JKN was crucial as the healthcare program would affect a significant portion of the country’s population.

“We will create a mechanism to collect real data and information from the field on how effectively this program is being implemented. Our networks will be in charge of this job,” head of the task force Gatot Soetono said.

Gatot said that the task force would be based at Jl. Sam Ratulangi, Central Jakarta just behind the IDI national office.

The task force is expected to start its operation early next week.

IDI chairman Zaenal Abidin also said that the new team was expected to take measures to improve the welfare of health workers under the BPJS.

Zaenal said the association had proposed an additional Rp 2 million (US$164) to Rp 3 million for fixed incentives to help supplement doctors’ monthly incomes, which range between Rp 15 million and Rp 21 million.

“Doctors are generally underpaid in certain locations, such as in border areas or on the outermost islands, despite working long hours. These incentives will help them to continue to provide health care for the people,” he said, adding that the government is currently drafting a regulation on fees for medical personnel.

The new regulation, which would be issued under a Health Ministry decree or a presidential decree, is expected to be ready in the next three weeks.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially launched the national health insurance (JKN) program managed under the BPJS for the health sector at the Bogor Palace, on Tuesday.

As a first step, the JKN program will be delivered to 121 million people, or 48 percent of the population. This comprises 86.4 million beneficiaries of the government-funded community health insurance program (Jamkesmas); 11 million beneficiaries of locally funded health insurance program (Jamkesda); 16 million Askes holders; 7 million Jamsostek holders and 1.2 million members of Asabri, an insurance program for TNI/Polri personnel.

The Health Ministry says that 1,720 out of 2,300 Indonesian hospitals, both private and public, have signed a partnership agreement with the BPJS for the health sector, which took effect on Jan.1, 2014.

This comprises 533 public hospitals, 919 private hospitals, 109 special and psychiatric hospitals, 104 Indonesian Military hospitals and 45 National Police hospitals. (www.thejakartapost.xom)