"One of the highest proportions of financing in the JKN program is financing for treatment of catastrophic non-communicable diseases (PTM). BPJS Kesehatan data shows that in 2019, the total costs of dealing with catastrophic non-communicable diseases reached Rp20.27 trillion," Amin pointed out during a webinar on Indonesia Health Resilience and Independence, organized on Thursday by the board of trustees of the University of Indonesia (MWA-UI).
The non-communicable diseases whose prevalence has increased include hypertension, whose incidence has climbed from 25.8 percent to 34.10 percent, and diabetes mellitus, whose incidence has risen from 6.9 percent to 10.9 percent.
Amin argued that such diseases can be prevented if communities adopt a healthy and clean lifestyle.
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"The high cost of medical treatment that must be handled by BPJS Kesehatan is caused by a decline in public awareness of risk factors for non-communicable diseases such as obesity, smoking, lack of physical activity, and low consumption of fruits and vegetables," he said.
The high cost of claims for the treatment of non-communicable diseases shows that the JKN system so far is still focused on curative and rehabilitative efforts, he pointed out.
"So, there are still many who tend to rely on hospitals rather than empowering the community to adopt a healthy lifestyle through promotive and preventive efforts," he said.
Therefore, the Vice President stressed, there needs to be a transformation in the health system in Indonesia through the prioritization of community empowerment and a healthy and clean life.
"The fact conveyed needs to be contemplated so that the current situation can become a turning point in transforming the health system in our country, which needs to emphasize the empowerment of people to live healthy, which basically can be achieved through various promotional and preventive efforts programs," the Vice President remarked.
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Translator: Fransiska Ninditya, Katriana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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