58th Anniversary: BPJS Kesehatan Sustains Hope Through Mutual Cooperation for Health

The journey of health insurance in Indonesia has spanned decades and passed through various phases of development. Starting from an organisation established on 15 July 1968, namely the Health Maintenance Fund Management Agency (BPDPK), institutional transformation continued through Perum Husada Bakti and PT Askes (Persero), until becoming BPJS Kesehatan on 1 January 2014, which manages the National Health Insurance Programme (JKN). On the momentum of its 58th anniversary, BPJS Kesehatan reflected on the journey of health insurance provision, which has evolved to meet the needs of the community while strengthening service quality for JKN participants, which has now reached 285 million people. To date, the JKN Programme has become one of the national strategic programmes providing health protection for the majority of Indonesia’s population. Various improvement efforts are frequently undertaken, ranging from strengthening services at health facilities, developing digital services, simplifying administrative processes, to increasing ease of access to services for participants. BPJS Kesehatan President Director Prihati Pujowaskito said that the long journey of health insurance provision in Indonesia demonstrates the importance of collaboration among all parties in maintaining the programme’s continuity. The various achievements are the result of joint work by all stakeholders supporting the maintenance of access to health services for the community. “For 58 years, the provision of health insurance has adapted to the times and the needs of the community. That journey has led us to the implementation of the JKN Programme, which has now entered its 13th year. Thank you to President Prabowo, who always supports the sustainability of the JKN Programme. With increasingly strong collaboration, we are optimistic that the JKN Programme can produce a healthy generation for Golden Indonesia 2045,” Pujo said during the BPJS Kesehatan 58th Anniversary Symposium at the BPJS Kesehatan Head Office on Wednesday. Pujo also revealed that the sustainability of the JKN Programme is BPJS Kesehatan’s main focus in formulating future organisational policy direction and regulation. According to him, the various transformation steps taken must be able to maintain a balance between service quality, expansion of participation, and the programme’s financial health. “Currently, the JKN Programme claims ratio has reached 108 percent. This condition shows that the challenge of health financing is growing. If a private insurance company might reprice when claims reach 95 percent to maintain its business continuity, we hope that policy support through new regulations can strengthen the sustainability of the JKN Programme so that its benefits can continue to be felt by the community in the long term,” Pujo said. Nevertheless, BPJS Kesehatan sees potential for strengthening programme funding through increased compliance and participation coverage. BPJS Kesehatan has also prepared a strategic plan oriented towards programme sustainability. Various policies will be directed not only at operational aspects but also at strengthening the financial foundation and service quality. To that end, BPJS Kesehatan is preparing a strategic plan oriented towards increasing participation, strengthening funding, and transforming services. One effort to be pushed is the integration of JKN Programme participation with public services, accompanied by the development of non-face-to-face services through the use of digital technology so that access to services becomes easier and more efficient. Presidential Chief of Staff Dudung Abdurachman appreciated BPJS Kesehatan’s role in strengthening the national social protection system through the JKN Programme. In a keynote speech at the BPJS Kesehatan 58th Anniversary Symposium, he said the JKN Programme is a main pillar of public health aligned with the national health development vision and the President’s Asta Cita. “We also appreciate various BPJS Kesehatan programmes that pay attention to the government’s four priority collaborative programmes. Starting from health monitoring for students and SPPG officers through P-Care Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), health checks at three state-run schools, the development of JKN Healthy Villages together with the Red and White Village Cooperative as a health insurance facilitator agent, and the JKN 3T Programme through cooperation with the Indonesian Navy hospital auxiliary ship and the dispatch of health workers to 3T regions,” Dudung said. However, Dudung reminded that there are still challenges to be faced together, such as the sustainability of social security funding, participant compliance, and synergy with health facilities. Therefore, he stressed the importance of strong commitment and collaboration between the government, BPJS Kesehatan, health facilities, and the community to maintain the continuity and improve the service quality of the JKN Programme. At the peak moment of its 58th anniversary, BPJS Kesehatan also successfully obtained ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System Certification, specifically for the Procurement Function and Investment Function, as well as ISO 37301 Compliance Management System Certification. BPJS Kesehatan is committed to strengthening the organisational culture of integrity and compliance through the implementation of the ISO 37001-based Anti-Bribery Management System and the ISO 37301-based Compliance Management System.