Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government has taken some measures to cut the deficit suffered by the Healthcare Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan), Indonesia`s Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said here on Monday.

"We have taken some measures to cut the deficit," Sri Mulyani stated after a closed-door meeting with President Joko Widodo and some cabinet ministers in the Presidential Palace.

The measures include contribution of local governments, which are yet to meet its obligation and some other mixed policies, she noted.

The ministry, Sri Mulyani added, has issued a ministerial decree to address the issue.

However, she did not elaborate the subjects discussed in the meeting with the president.

Also present at the meeting were Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution, Energy and Mineral Resource Minister Ignasius Jonan, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resource Archandra Tahar, and head of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) board of commissioner Wimboh Santoso.

Previously, the Healthcare Social Security Agency, in its 2017 financial report, has recorded a deficit of Rp6.74 trillion, while in 2016, it recorded a surplus of Rp90 billion.

The deficit has taken into account members` premium and the healthcare insurance covered by the agency.

The Finance Ministry, under the ministry`s decree no. 113/PMK.02/2018 on provision, disbursement and accountability of reserve fund for the national healthcare insurance program, has confirmed that it would disburse fund relief for the institution.

Reporting by Agus Salim
Editing by Sri Haryati

Reporter: Agus Salim
Editor: Bustanuddin
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