Govt told to commit to universal health care<\/p>\n
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara<\/p>\n
The government's failure to formulate a system that ensures
\naffordable public health care, and to set up a credible agency to
\nimplement it, reflects its lack of commitment to public health,
\nan insurance firm executive said.<\/p>\n
President of state social security insurance PT Jamsostek
\nAhmad Junaidi said the nation's health care service should be far
\nless costly, had the government learned from the experience of
\nmore developed countries.<\/p>\n
"Unlike in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, health care in
\nprivate and state hospitals, clinics and state public health
\ncenters in remote areas is too costly, and low-income people such
\nas farmers, pedicab drivers and street vendors cannot afford it.
\nWe need an integrated system to make it affordable," he said on
\nWednesday during an opening of a Jamsostek office here.<\/p>\n
Junaidi said it was no wonder that many Indonesian citizens
\nand government officials went to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand
\nfor medical check-ups, because health-care costs in those
\ncountries were inexpensive.<\/p>\n
Many private hospitals in Jakarta have thrown their weight
\nbehind the national health scheme proposed by the House of
\nRepresentatives and the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI).
\nRelevant government institutions, however, remain reluctant to
\nsupport it because of conflicting interests.<\/p>\n
Separately, IDI president Farid Anfasa Moeloek openly
\nregretted the government's lack of political will to set up a
\nnational health scheme that would provide inexpensive health care
\nservices for the public.<\/p>\n
Moeloek and Junaidi agreed with an international labor
\nconvention that declared health as a basic human right, and that
\na government was obliged to provide low-cost health services in
\nexchange for taxes collected from the public.<\/p>\n
The two also shared the view that the health issue should be
\naddressed by presidential candidates in their campaigns, along
\nwith corruption eradication and affordable education.<\/p>\n
"People have to be encouraged to vote for presidential
\ncandidates who are committed to providing affordable health care
\nand education, and to creating jobs," said Junaidi.<\/p>\n
He admitted that it would be difficult to form an integrated
\nhealth system and appoint a single, credible agency to run it, as
\nmany health insurance firms existed that catered to a particular
\nmarket segment.<\/p>\n
"I'm not sure if smaller insurance companies like Askes and
\nAsabri will be ready to merge with Jamsostek and private health
\ninsurance companies," he said. Askes provides health insurance
\nfor civil servants, while Asabri services military and police
\npersonnel.<\/p>\n
A national health scheme would be operational if the
\ngovernment manages to implement it rigidly and provide subsidies
\nfor a public health program.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-told-to-commit-to-universal-health-care-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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