Jember Launches Homecare Programme to Ease Healthcare Access for the Underprivileged

The Jember Regency Government continues to demonstrate its commitment to widening access to healthcare for the community, particularly for low-income groups. This commitment was realised through the launch of the innovative Homecare health service programme, attended by Deputy Health Minister of the Republic of Indonesia Benjamin Paulus Octavianus and Jember Regent Muhammad Fawait, at the Sumber Baru Community Health Centre (Puskesmas) in Jember Regency on Friday, 24 July 2026.

Jember Regent Muhammad Fawait said the programme was prompted by the fact that Jember has the second-highest number of people in absolute poverty in East Java. This poverty affects several sectors, including health, with issues such as stunting, rising maternal mortality rates and infant mortality rates.

The man affectionately known as Gus Fawait explained that although the Jember Regency Government had made BPJS health insurance free for all underprivileged residents since 1 April 2025, the public not only needed free treatment but also faced cost barriers in accessing services at community health centres and hospitals.

“From there, the President’s spirit was translated into a breakthrough through the Homecare programme. Underprivileged residents will receive healthcare services delivered directly to their homes,” he said.

The Homecare service operates on an outreach basis, with health workers visiting the homes of residents in need. The programme is prioritised for vulnerable groups such as low-income households, chronic disease sufferers, the elderly, people with disabilities, high-risk pregnant women and children suffering from stunting.

“If well-off families can have a private doctor or family doctor, the Jember Regency Government wants to provide something similar for underprivileged residents. This is in line with the President’s spirit that the underprivileged must be defended and given access to proper healthcare services,” he said.

Deputy Health Minister of the Republic of Indonesia Benjamin Paulus Octavianus expressed appreciation for the work of the Jember Regency Government under Regent Gus Fawait in facilitating healthcare access for the public. “I greatly appreciate what the Regent of Jember, Gus Fawait, has done,” he said.

He noted that although BPJS Kesehatan membership coverage in Jember Regency had reached 80 per cent and was able to reach underprivileged residents, questions remained as to why poverty and stunting rates in the region were still high.

“It turns out that residents face difficulties accessing health facilities because Jember is a very large area and the distance to health facilities is considerable. That is why the Regent of Jember adopted an outreach approach,” he said.

Benjamin said the Ministry of Health views the programme as having the potential to become a pilot project. Starting in Jember and seriously initiated by the regent, similar programmes are planned to be developed in several regions of East Java, Central Java and West Java in 2027.

“Going forward, I hope programmes like this can be implemented across Indonesia, not only in Jember. This programme is very helpful, especially for patients who are ready to be discharged from hospital but still require care at home,” he said. “In my view, this is an extraordinary breakthrough programme from the Regent of Jember.”