Government drafts new bill on health care system
Government drafts new bill on health care system
JAKARTA (JP): The government is drafting a bill that will
assist implementation of a national system to cover health care
costs for all levels of society.
Under the system, initiated in 1996, people will subscribe to
a particular low cost health plan which guarantees them continued
health care.
"It is like health insurance, only better," Widyastuti
Wibisana, director for Managed Care at the Directorate General
for Community Health, said here on Monday.
Widyastuti said the system will offer different programs with
payments varying from Rp 1,200 to Rp 120,000 per month per
person.
"We are aware that the rich will prefer more luxurious
treatment, that's why we offer various programs," Widyastuti
said.
However, people who subscribe to the minimum cost plan are
guaranteed equal quality health service, Widyastuti said.
The system will be managed by an agency licensed by the
government.
Widyastuti said the system is already popular here. Currently
there are 21 health management agencies operating in Jakarta,
West and East Java, and Riau.
According to Widyastuti there are 354 awaiting approval from
the ministry.
Once enrolled, subscribers to the plan no longer have to worry
about potential health costs, because everything, including
doctor fees, prescriptions and hospital bills, will automatically
be covered.
The system, despite getting little publicity is already very
popular. Widyastuti estimates some 15.1 percent of the population
is enrolled.
In a regular insurance system, Widyastuti argued, doctors are
not encouraged to maintain the policy holder's health as the
insurance company pays the costs of client treatment each time he
is ill.
But under the new system, she said, "doctors are urged to
maintain their clients' health because doctors will have to pay
for client treatment because they have been paid in advance."
Widyastuti said that the system would use a family doctor care
system to ensure doctors keep good records of their patients'
medical histories.
She also said that the system will help curb quack doctors who
extol money by having patients undergo unnecessary tests.
Widyastuti said there would not be preliminary health check-
ups for anyone wishing to join the program.
However, she suggested people join in groups so the healthy
can subsidize those who were sick.(08)