"Since Indonesia's independence, this marks the first time that an Indonesian institution has been nominated for the Nobel Prize," Mukti stated here on Saturday.
He disclosed that the Centre for Peace and Security at Coventry University in the United Kingdom nominated BPJS Kesehatan for this year's Nobel Peace Prize.
According to Mukti, the nomination was based on the "mutual assistance" principle of BPJS Kesehatan, which reflects the core values of peace and humanity. He added that peace also means enabling people to live in dignity with access to healthcare services.
"Human dignity is upheld when people help each other. With the spirit of mutual assistance, the rich help the poor, the healthy help the sick, and the young help the elderly," he said.
Mukti claimed that, compared to the Nobel Peace Prize–winning Grameen Bank founded by Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh, BPJS Kesehatan has had an even greater public impact.
Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 "for their efforts to create economic and social development from below."
He noted that BPJS Kesehatan goes beyond financial services by ensuring nationwide healthcare access for all Indonesians. The program has also encouraged job creation and reduced poverty by easing the financial burden of medical treatment.
“When we compare it with the Bangladeshi Grameen Bank, which received the Nobel Peace Prize, BPJS Kesehatan offers greater benefits to everyone,” he remarked.
This year's Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Marina Corina Machado "for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy," the Nobel Committee stated on October 10.
Meanwhile, the Nobel Committee notes that nominations are "closely guarded secrets" and can only be made public at least 50 years after submission. Any reports regarding recent nominees are "either just rumor, or leaked information from within the invited nominators."
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Translator: Luqman Hakim, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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