Ibas Emphasises Health Insurance Programme as Key Investment That Must Be Strengthened

Ngawi, VIVA – The Deputy Speaker of the MPR RI, Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono (Ibas), stated that public understanding regarding health and health insurance programmes needs to be continuously strengthened. Health protection is not only vital when an individual falls ill but also serves as a component of efforts to maintain productivity and the sustainability of family life.

“If our bodies are healthy, we can work. If we can work, businesses can grow. If businesses grow, our families will become more prosperous,” Ibas said in a written statement on Saturday, 19 September 2026.

“We should not wait until we are sick to care about our health. Health is not a final cost for us. Health is the primary investment for human beings,” he continued.

Ibas also highlighted the importance of strengthening public health in tandem with economic activities. MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) are expected to continue developing as pillars of the local economy and, in time, contribute to strengthening the national economy.

Development, according to him, must be felt in the daily lives of the community, ranging from rice fields, small shops, workplaces, and homes, to various economic activities at the local level.

“The hope is simple. For us as representatives of the people, our community becomes healthier, our community becomes more productive, and our MSMEs will continue to grow as pillars of the local economy and eventually become strengtheners of the national economy,” he said.

During the occasion, various ongoing efforts to support the community were also mentioned, including the provision of agricultural tools and machinery, irrigation support, programmes for renovating uninhabitable houses, the renovation of places of worship through social programmes, and clean water assistance.

All these efforts are expected to run alongside the improvement of public health quality. This is because regional development requires not only infrastructure and economic support but also healthy and productive human resources.

The Deputy Chairperson of the Democratic Party urged the people of Ngawi to maintain their health, utilise BPJS Kesehatan programmes and facilities effectively, and foster a spirit of togetherness to drive regional progress.

With a healthy and productive population and strong economic activity, Ngawi is expected to continue developing into an increasingly advanced and prosperous region.