BPJS Opens Opportunity to Assess Health of MBG Beneficiary Students

BPJS Kesehatan’s Chief Executive Officer Prihati Pujowaskito opened the door to a potential collaboration with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to implement Free Nutritious Meals (MBG). BPJS could measure the health status of pupils after they have taken MBG. ‘Or the metrics we could carry out after receiving MBG,’ Prihati said at the BPJS Central Building in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, 4 March 2026. BPJS could also deploy its staff to be present at Primary Healthcare Facilities nearest to the beneficiaries’ location. All these opportunities could be mapped out jointly with BGN. The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana previously hoped BPJS would provide a health insurance programme for MBG beneficiaries. He said health protection is important so that everyone can have protection. MBG has so far served 61.2 million people. ‘In our view, how can a health insurance programme guarantee protection to beneficiaries who are soon reaching its peak,’ he said via Zoom during the Kick Off BPJS Kesehatan Tanggap at the BPJS Central Office, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, 4 March 2026. The event was also attended by BPJS Kesehatan Chief Executive Officer Prihati Pujowaskito. From January to early March 2026, MBG poisoning cases were still being reported. The Indonesia Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) recorded 1,242 victims in January. Other data show nearly 2,000 students poisoned in January 2026, while BGN highlighted 47 cases spread up to 28 February 2026, mainly in the regions of Central Java (Jateng), East Java (Jatim), and West Java (Jabar). To date, 24,443 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) have been established. Dadan said BGN has only provided BPJS Social to 1.2 workers involved in MBG. BGN hopes those workers will obtain BPJS Kesehatan. Editor’s Note: Ali Ghufron: BPJS Issues Are Many, Not Just PBI.