BPJS Kesehatan Reaffirms JKN Services Are Aligned with Sharia Principles

Republika.co.id, Jakarta - Akmal Budi Yulianto, Director of Participant Enrollment at BPJS Kesehatan, emphasised that the National Health Insurance Programme (JKN) has been run in accordance with Sharia principles, including fund management, participation contracts, and service mechanisms for participants. He stated that substantively, JKN was built from the outset on the principles of gotong royong (mutual cooperation) and social justice, which align with Sharia values. He said these principles embody the ta’awun concept in Islam. ‘The JKN programme does not involve riba (usury), gharar (uncertainty), or maisir (gambling). The membership scheme and fund management are conducted transparently and accountably, and are supervised by various parties including the Sharia Advisory Board. This proves that JKN does not conflict with Shariah principles,’ he said. He added that efforts to strengthen public literacy about the concept of gotong royong and the financing mechanisms of JKN continue to prevent misunderstandings about the national social security system. ‘Basically, JKN is a social protection system that places the interests of participants as a priority. The Sharia approach is one of the endeavours to provide a sense of calm and certainty for the public,’ he said. Chairperson of the Sharia Advisory Council (DPS) of BPJS Kesehatan, K.H. Muhammad Cholil Nafis, said the Sharia service implementation that has been operating, especially in Aceh, has undergone studies and supervision based on Sharia principles. ‘The fund management scheme, the contract between participants and BPJS Kesehatan, and its operational mechanisms all refer to Sharia principles. The funds are also placed in Sharia-compliant investment instruments,’ Nafis said. He added that the DPS BPJS Kesehatan continues to supervise to ensure all processes remain aligned with the ta’awun or gotong royong that is the spirit of the social security system. According to him, the concept of mutual help among participants is highly relevant to Sharia values. From 2014 to the end of 2024, the JKN Programme has disbursed Rp 1,087 trillion to finance health service delivery funded by participants’ contributions. This demonstrates shared concern, as each participant’s contributions help other participants in need of health services.