BPJS Kesehatan Encourages Cooperatives to Serve as Village Health Facilities

The National Health Insurance Body (BPJS) Kesehatan is encouraging Koperasi Merah Putih to serve as health facilities to provide services to rural communities. BPJS Kesehatan Chief Executive Officer, Retired Major General Prihati Pujowaskito, stated that this step is intended to enhance Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN) services down to the village level while expanding participant coverage.

Prihati Pujowaskito—often called Pujo—mentioned that BPJS Kesehatan is exploring cooperation with Koperasi Merah Putih, which already has complete facilities such as clinics and available medicines. “For example, if they are already complete, we can make that a partnership as a FKTP (Primary Care Facility). Koperasi Merah Putih that already has a clinic and medicines can become a FKTP, those that are complete,” said Pujo at the BPJS Kesehatan head office in Jakarta on Tuesday, 7 April 2026.

He explained that this scheme aims to ensure JKN benefits reach villages. Ideally, every village should have one primary care facility complete with a clinic and medical personnel. Even, according to him, the most ideal condition is one clinic having one doctor.

However, if a shortage of medical personnel is an obstacle, cooperatives can still be functioned as special primary care facilities. In this scheme, one doctor can handle up to five clinics in five different cooperatives. BPJS Kesehatan, said Pujo, can provide minimum capitation for a thousand participants, namely Rp10,000 per person or equivalent to Rp10 million.

For cooperatives that do not yet have health facilities, BPJS Kesehatan will deploy JKN cadres or involve cooperative employees as cadres. They are tasked with conducting education, socialisation, and communication of the JKN programme to rural communities.

In addition to improving services, this cooperation is also expected to expand JKN participation. Cadres will play a role in motivating, educating, and recruiting villagers to become active participants. “So, JKN protection must still be simplified, one of which is through Koperasi Merah Putih,” said Pujo.

He noted that the financing scheme will still follow the chosen participation segment. Participants receiving Premium Assistance (PBI) are ensured to still access services at Koperasi Merah Putih health facilities.

Currently, BPJS Kesehatan covers 283 million participants. Of that number, about 81.5 percent or 266 million people are recorded as active. However, there are still around 17 million inactive participants.

On the same occasion, the Minister of Villages, Underdeveloped Regions Development, and Transmigration, Yandri Susanto, assessed that this collaboration has the potential to add new JKN participants. He highlighted the number of villages in Indonesia, which reaches 75,266.

This politician from the National Mandate Party (PAN) stated that economic equity and health are two inseparable things. “Economic equity is truly in line with the health sector. Especially since poverty eradication and economic issues are largely in villages,” said Yandri in a speech before the signing of the cooperation with BPJS Kesehatan.

He also believes that most of the 17 million inactive JKN participants come from villages. Therefore, cooperation with the Ministry of Villages is expected to increase public awareness that BPJS Kesehatan is a basic need.

BPJS Kesehatan signed a memorandum of understanding with several ministries and agencies to integrate data, expand participant coverage, and improve sustainable compliance. The signing was carried out with the Ministry of Villages and Underdeveloped Regions Development, the Ministry of Cooperatives, the Ministry of Manpower’s Planning and Development Agency, and the National Nutrition Agency in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, 7 April 2026.

Pujo emphasised that this collaboration is a strategic step to address future JKN challenges, which not only focuses on expanding coverage but also maintaining activity and the quality of participant protection. “Through this cooperation, we are optimistic about strengthening the JKN foundation. This collaboration is expected to be the key in ensuring JKN remains adaptive and sustainable as the main pillar of social protection,” said Pujo.