Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that construction of the national health insurer (BPJS Kesehatan) Office building in the new capital city (IKN) Nusantara complements health services for the community in IKN.

"After the groundbreaking of the financial cluster, now the construction of the BPJS Kesehatan office and five other hospitals is being carried out. This will complement services for the people here," he stated at the groundbreaking of the BPJS Kesehatan office building at IKN in East Kalimantan on Friday.

On the occasion, the head of state emphasized the burden of health services from BPJS Kesehatan in 2015-2016 that experienced a deficit.

During the 2015-2017 period, he often received complaints from BPJS Kesehatan's members regarding long queues to access health service.

However, after a review, the president found that services at hospitals serving BPJS Kesehatan's participants had changed drastically.

"Based on complaints, such as long queues, I went to hospitals to monitor it. After 2020, I checked the queue at the hospital for registration, and the change has been very drastic," he remarked.

He also lauded BPJS Kesehatan for its improvement in reducing deficits. The number of members registering with BPJS Kesehatan had also reached 267 million people, or 95.7 percent of the total population of Indonesia.

While concluding his remarks, the president remarked that construction of the BPJS Kesehatan office building would complement health services for the community in IKN.

Earlier, Jokowi had officiated the groundbreakings of five hospitals in IKN that are currently under construction, including the Government Vertical Hospital whose completion is expected in July 2024.

The 20-story hospital will be equipped with 250 beds and have 30 general practitioners and 20 specialist doctors, according to Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.

Related news: Indonesia keen to have presidential palace built with own hands
Related news: Jokowi inspects construction of state apparatus flats in new capital


Translator: Mentari Dwi G, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2024