Only 2 Million PBI BPJS Participants Reactivated, DPR: Disappointing

A working meeting between the DPR’s Commission IX and government representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Affairs, and BPJS Kesehatan proved contentious, lasting from 1:00 p.m. to around 7:50 p.m. WIB. One key issue highlighted was the government’s inadequate efforts to reactivate PBI BPJS Kesehatan participants. Since early February, 11 million participants in this service have been deactivated. “Out of 11 million people who were supposed to be reactivated, only 2 million have been—this is a disappointing fact,” said Irma Suryani Chaniago, a member of Commission IX DPR, during the meeting at the DPR, MPR, and DPD Complex on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. She warned that the incomplete reactivation would have significant repercussions for the public, as deactivated participants risk being denied healthcare services. She questioned the performance of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Affairs, and BPJS Kesehatan in failing to complete the reactivation for all 11 million PBI participants. “So, to all the gentlemen here before us today, we don’t need fancy presentations full of rhetoric but yielding zero results,” stated the NasDem Party politician. During the meeting, Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf explained the number of reactivated PBI BPJS Kesehatan participants. Of the 11 million deactivated, 2.1 million have been reactivated. Saifullah added that the government has instructed health facilities to continue providing the best services to all patients, especially those in the PBI BPJS Kesehatan programme still undergoing reactivation. The Ministry of Social Affairs, he said, guarantees that the financing for these patients will be covered by the government. “We have conveyed that they should be served first, as this is already a policy between the government and BPJS,” said Saifullah. However, Commission IX DPR Chair Felly Estelita Runtunewe stated that field findings reveal a different reality. The DPR has received reports of health facilities still refusing to treat deactivated PBI BPJS patients. Therefore, she said, Commission IX DPR urges the government to promptly complete the full reactivation of PBI BPJS Kesehatan participants. “Many hospitals are not implementing this, and the public complains to us as their representatives,” said Felly. Saifullah stated that his agency will follow up on the DPR’s findings regarding health facilities refusing PBI BPJS patients. “We will ensure the information from the DPR, which I think is quite clear,” said the PBNU General Secretary. Previously, 11 million PBI BPJS participants were deactivated as of 1 February 2026. The sudden changes in data for health insurance benefit recipients sparked controversy. One impact was on services for kidney failure patients requiring dialysis. According to a report from the Indonesian Dialysis Patient Community, 200 kidney failure patients were held up at hospital registration counters due to the revocation of their BPJS Kesehatan participant status.