“Reforming the National Healthcare Insurance (JKN) system is not enough without major efforts to reduce the number of people falling ill,” Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Pratikno said on Friday.
A decade ago, Indonesia took a bold move by establishing JKN. Today, it covers 98 percent of the country’s roughly 280 million people, making it the fastest-growing universal healthcare system in the world, he said.
Despite this remarkable progress, he noted that several challenges remain, including financial pressures, low contribution compliance especially among informal workers, uneven health infrastructure between metropolitan and rural areas, and issues with the payment system.
Pratikno highlighted that non-communicable diseases account for 52 percent of total deaths in Indonesia, significantly contributing to the surge in insurance claims to the Social Security for Health Agency (BPJS Kesehatan).
To address these challenges, the government is promoting the free health checkup program (CKG) and building hospitals at the regional level. These steps, he said, will help increase public awareness of their health conditions. BPJS Kesehatan, however, must be prepared for a short-term rise in claims as more people undergo screenings.
The ministry’s three measures aim to shift the public’s perception of health—from a focus on curative care to a preventive and promotive approach—ensuring that healthy individuals remain healthy.
The first pillar, education, includes integrating health lessons into the national school curriculum, providing health education for prospective spouses and families, and strengthening the role of community health cadres.
The second pillar focuses on cultivating a healthy ecosystem. The ministry monitors progress in reducing unhealthy food consumption, supported by regulations from the National Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) and the Health Ministry, along with the Finance Ministry’s tax policies.
The government is also promoting the revitalization of public green spaces and community sports facilities, encouraging health-oriented initiatives in workplaces, and offering healthier snack options during meetings.
The third pillar centers on strengthening early detection and primary intervention, including through the CKG program.
Pratikno stressed that strengthening the JKN system and advancing disease prevention must go hand in hand to maintain public health and support the achievement of Indonesia’s Golden Vision 2045.
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Translator: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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