IFI Urges BPJS to Evaluate Referral System as Physiotherapy Claims Hit Rp 5 Trillion
The Indonesian Physiotherapy Association (IFI) has highlighted that the rising number of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is significantly increasing the financial burden on the National Health Insurance (JKN) programme, with physiotherapy claims alone reaching around Rp 5 trillion.
IFI Secretary-General Muh Irfan stated that the latest health survey indicates 73 per cent of disease cases in Indonesia are now non-communicable, the majority of which require physiotherapy for rehabilitation and restoration of motor function. However, he noted that the growing demand for these services has not been matched by improved access.
Currently, patients must navigate a tiered referral system before receiving physiotherapy, a process Irfan described as inefficient. This often results in rehabilitation cases accumulating at hospitals, even though many could be managed earlier at primary care facilities or independent physiotherapy practices.
“The cost burden for physiotherapy is quite high. Claims have reached Rp 5 trillion,” Irfan said during the IFI National Congress 2026 and TITAFI XXXVIII in Malang, East Java.
IFI is urging BPJS Kesehatan to adjust its physiotherapy service policies in line with the Health Law, which grants physiotherapists greater authority to conduct assessments and establish physiotherapy diagnoses according to their competencies. The association believes that streamlining the service pathway could improve cost efficiency and accelerate patient recovery, as earlier therapeutic intervention reduces the risk of complications and disability.
“IFI is actively providing input to BPJS to improve physiotherapy services so that both the process and financing become more efficient, enabling patients to recover faster,” Irfan added. The organisation hopes that a review of the referral system will strengthen national rehabilitation services amid the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and the near-universal coverage of the JKN programme.