The Jember Regency Government continues to demonstrate its commitment\nto widening access to healthcare for the community, particularly for\nlow-income groups. This commitment was realised through the launch of\nthe innovative Homecare health service programme, attended by Deputy\nHealth Minister of the Republic of Indonesia Benjamin Paulus Octavianus\nand Jember Regent Muhammad Fawait, at the Sumber Baru Community Health\nCentre (Puskesmas) in Jember Regency on Friday, 24 July 2026.<\/p>\n
Jember Regent Muhammad Fawait said the programme was prompted by the\nfact that Jember has the second-highest number of people in absolute\npoverty in East Java. This poverty affects several sectors, including\nhealth, with issues such as stunting, rising maternal mortality rates\nand infant mortality rates.<\/p>\n
The man affectionately known as Gus Fawait explained that although\nthe Jember Regency Government had made BPJS health insurance free for\nall underprivileged residents since 1 April 2025, the public not only\nneeded free treatment but also faced cost barriers in accessing services\nat community health centres and hospitals.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom there, the President\u2019s spirit was translated into a\nbreakthrough through the Homecare programme. Underprivileged residents\nwill receive healthcare services delivered directly to their homes,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The Homecare service operates on an outreach basis, with health\nworkers visiting the homes of residents in need. The programme is\nprioritised for vulnerable groups such as low-income households, chronic\ndisease sufferers, the elderly, people with disabilities, high-risk\npregnant women and children suffering from stunting.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf well-off families can have a private doctor or family doctor, the\nJember Regency Government wants to provide something similar for\nunderprivileged residents. This is in line with the President\u2019s spirit\nthat the underprivileged must be defended and given access to proper\nhealthcare services,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Deputy Health Minister of the Republic of Indonesia Benjamin Paulus\nOctavianus expressed appreciation for the work of the Jember Regency\nGovernment under Regent Gus Fawait in facilitating healthcare access for\nthe public. \u201cI greatly appreciate what the Regent of Jember, Gus Fawait,\nhas done,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He noted that although BPJS Kesehatan membership coverage in Jember\nRegency had reached 80 per cent and was able to reach underprivileged\nresidents, questions remained as to why poverty and stunting rates in\nthe region were still high.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt turns out that residents face difficulties accessing health\nfacilities because Jember is a very large area and the distance to\nhealth facilities is considerable. That is why the Regent of Jember\nadopted an outreach approach,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Benjamin said the Ministry of Health views the programme as having\nthe potential to become a pilot project. Starting in Jember and\nseriously initiated by the regent, similar programmes are planned to be\ndeveloped in several regions of East Java, Central Java and West Java in\n2027.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing forward, I hope programmes like this can be implemented across\nIndonesia, not only in Jember. This programme is very helpful,\nespecially for patients who are ready to be discharged from hospital but\nstill require care at home,\u201d he said. \u201cIn my view, this is an\nextraordinary breakthrough programme from the Regent of Jember.\u201d<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jember-launches-homecare-programme-to-ease-healthcare-access-for-the-underprivileged-1784890630", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }