Makassar Nears Universal Health Coverage with 99.8% JKN Participation

Amidst the hustle and bustle of a city that never sleeps, one group often escapes attention: retirees. Those who once served the nation now age quietly behind the scenes. However, on Thursday (18/6), they became the focus of the SERASI Forum for the National Health Insurance (JKN) programme, held by BPJS Kesehatan in collaboration with the Republic of Indonesia Wredatama Association (PWRI) at the Claro Hotel & Convention Makassar.

Makassar Deputy Mayor Aliyah Mustika Ilham attended, giving special attention to the pensioners and elderly present. She firmly stated that the Makassar City Government is fully committed to ensuring decent and sustainable healthcare access for those who have entered retirement. “These retirees are individuals who have given their best service to the nation and the region. It is our shared responsibility to ensure they continue to receive proper, easily accessible, and sustainable health protection through the JKN Programme,” she told the hundreds of participants gathered.

Behind this statement lie compelling figures. JKN participation coverage in Makassar City has reached 99.81%, encompassing approximately 1.4 million residents out of the total population. This achievement positions Makassar as one of the regions with national priority Universal Health Coverage (UHC) status. South Sulawesi Province as a whole is similarly impressive, with participation touching 99.17%.

However, behind this achievement lies a serious challenge: of the 1.4 million participants in Makassar, around 82% are active, leaving a gap of roughly 18% who are inactive. This gap is a significant concern, given Makassar’s role as a hub of mobility for residents from various areas. “This condition is influenced by the highly dynamic population mobility in Makassar City, as it serves as a centre of activity for people from various regions,” explained Ahmad Asyarie, Secretary of the Makassar City Health Office, who accompanied the Deputy Mayor at the event.

The SERASI forum carried a meaningful theme: ‘Caring for Service, Strengthening Protection: Healthy in Retirement, Happy with JKN’. The theme served as a reminder that pensioners are not mere statistics, but individuals who have dedicated their lives to the nation’s progress.

BPJS Kesehatan’s Director of Participation, Akmal Budi Yulianto, who officially opened the event, stressed that JKN exists to provide health protection without age limits. He described PWRI as a strategic partner of BPJS Kesehatan, playing a major role in enhancing public understanding of rights and obligations as JKN participants. Akmal also expressed special appreciation to the Makassar City Government, particularly Deputy Mayor Aliyah Mustika Ilham, for her consistent attention to various public health protection programmes. “Strong synergy between the regional government and BPJS Kesehatan is key to maintaining participation achievements and improving service quality for JKN participants in Makassar City,” he asserted.

PWRI General Chairperson Setyanto P. Santoso spoke with equal enthusiasm, calling JKN a tangible symbol of the state’s presence in protecting the people, especially those who have entered retirement. He further affirmed PWRI’s readiness to serve a strategic role as a participant educator, an aspiration bridge, a healthy living pioneer, a digital transformation agent, and a policy partner.

Meanwhile, Head of the South Sulawesi Provincial Health Office, Evi Mustikawati Arifin, reminded attendees that health is the primary foundation for building a productive and prosperous human resource base. This statement underscored that health protection for pensioners is not only a matter of social justice but also a long-term investment in the nation’s future.

The solemn event began with the singing of the national anthem ‘Indonesia Raya’, followed by the BPJS Kesehatan March and the PWRI March. The highlight was an opening procession involving the Deputy Mayor of Makassar, representatives of the South Sulawesi Provincial Government, the General Chairperson of PWRI, and the Director of Participation of BPJS Kesehatan, symbolising the official commencement of strengthened collaboration for the welfare of retirees. The event concluded with the presentation of a plaque to the PWRI General Chairperson by the BPJS Kesehatan Director of Participation, a gesture witnessed directly by the Deputy Mayor of Makassar as a tangible commitment to continuously strengthen synergy and collaboration in supporting the sustainability of the JKN Programme.