Jakarta (ANTARA) - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani has suggested to BPJS Health, the Indonesian national healthcare insurance, to streamline its management and financial system to decrease the 2018 deficit recorded at Rp9.1 trillion.

"The National Finance and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) has recommended that BPJS Health apply an action plan to cut the 9.1 trillion deficit, which is indeed under the control of BPJS Kesehatan (Health)," Mulyani stated at a hearing with members of Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) here on Monday evening.

Several recommendations were put forth to BPJS Health to lower the deficit including fraud prevention, non-performing loan (NPL) billing, and forging cooperation with other parties.

The minister also sought support of the health ministry in minimizing the deficit.

Mulyani expressed objection to BPJS Health directly approaching the Finance Ministry for more funding to minimize the deficit.

It will be the last resort for the Finance Ministry when all endeavors are unable to lower the deficit, according to Mulyani.

Furthermore, BPJS Health should bring about improvements in its data management system and conduct a data clean-up to prevent dual memberships.

Moreover, BPJS Health has collected monthly bills from participants, reaching only 53.7 percent out of the targeted 60 percent.

Translator: Aditya R, Fardah
Editor: Bambang Purwanto
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