Megawati pushes for health security program

Megawati pushes for health security program

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri urged the
need for a health insurance plan that gives all citizens access
to health care.

Addressing the opening of a work meeting held by the ministry
of health on Wednesday, Megawati said a community-based insurance
scheme was expected to operate as soon as the ongoing emergency
health safety net was lifted.

"The new program should be sustainable and accessible for all
people who seek health care," Megawati said.

The government proposed to the House of Representatives Rp
2.82 trillion for the health safety net program in the upcoming
fiscal year between April and December. The previous government
allocated Rp 3.45 trillion for the emergency program in the
current fiscal year.

Megawati praised the community-based care system now being
promoted by the ministry of health.

"I do not doubt the benefits of the program, which will
support the government's broad plan on health development," she
said.

According to the health security program bill, the drafting of
which is underway, the insurance scheme will be mandatory for all
citizens. The funding of the scheme will be based on cross-
subsidy, with each employed participant contributing three
percent of his or her income to the program.

Megawati, however, expressed her discontent with the funding
scheme, citing the extra burden the people and local governments
would have to suffer now that the economic crisis remains
unabated.

"I hope experts in the ministry of health will seek the best
way to implement the program without having to lay burdens on
people," she said.

Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi said that the health security
scheme would be one of main topics of discussion in the national
work meeting. The meeting is attended by health officials,
hospital directors and representatives of other health-related
organizations.

"We hope to decide on health policies in the face of the
enactment of the law on regional autonomy," Achmad said in his
speech. (04)