The model is not like the current one wherein everything is free of charge
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The revocation of the health emergency status in Indonesia implies that controlling COVID-19 has become a matter of individual responsibility, Health Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Syahril has said.

The responsibility here includes bearing the cost of the quick test, treatment, vaccination, and observing the health protocols, he informed at an online press conference on COVID-19 Development Update on Wednesday.

For the testing process, rapid COVID-19 test kits that have been granted a distribution license by the ministry are available for the public for independent use.

"For COVID-19 test, there are tests done independently using antigen and the result is reported through the SatuSehat Mobile application," he said.

The individual responsibility also applies to the COVID-19 patient treatment financing mechanism, which will now involve the National Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Health) mechanism, private insurance, and personal spending.

"Financing during the post-revocation of emergency status in Indonesia has been included within the existing payment mechanism, such as BPJS, private insurance, or personal spending, including (for) vaccination,” he informed.

"The model is not like the current one wherein everything is free of charge," he said.

Syahril assured that the national COVID-19 vaccination program will continue to be conducted through integration with the government routine program as a long-term mitigation effort.

Paid COVID-19 vaccinations have not been included in the remaining vaccines purchased using the government's emergency fund, which will be provided free of charge.

The mandate for wearing masks after the national emergency has been revoked. People are no longer obligated to wear masks to meet activity requirements, however, masking up has become an individual choice to prevent disease.

"The process of wearing a mask and others is an individual effort to prevent communicable diseases, not just COVID-19," he said.

"Masks are worn by patients and those infected by influenza in enclosed spaces and among crowds," he added.

This is because the use of masks is part of the effort to protect the public. If people experience COVID-19 symptoms, they should immediately check into the nearest health service facility.

After the World Health Organization (WHO) revoked the global emergency status for COVID-19, the international regulation related to restrictions on international travelers no longer applies. This will also be true for domestic travel, Syahril informed.

He added that the Health Ministry and other ministries would meet with President Joko Widodo to provide inputs concerning the COVID-19 situation in the country, which is currently under control.

These inputs will be considered by the President in revoking Presidential Decree No. 11 of 2020 on the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Establishment.

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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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