People told to get health insurace
People told to get health insurace
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Heath Sujudi encouraged the public
yesterday to participate in health insurance programs as a way to
cope with rising medical costs.
Currently, he said, many people are still reluctant to use the
prepayment system in health care, due to the lack of information
about the advantages of health insurance.
"Health insurance will provide participants with good quality
medical services," Sujudi said when opening an exhibition of
health products and services.
People are yet to be assured that participating in health
insurance programs will free them from the headaches they usually
encounter every time they have health problems.
A study last year by the Indonesian Consumers Foundation found
drug prices in Indonesia to be among the highest in Southeast
Asia, sometimes four to five times higher than those of other
countries in the region.
Twenty seven agencies, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies
are taking part in the exhibition, which will conclude on Sunday.
Seminars held on the sidelines will be open to the public.
Sujudi blamed the low yearly income level in Indonesia, now
standing at US$1,023, for the slow increase in the number of
people taking part in the prepayment system in medical care.
"In line with their rising incomes, people will demand better
health facilities and services," Sujudi said.
According to current Ministry of Health data, only about 31
million (or 16 percent) out of 200 million Indonesians use the
prepayment system for their health care needs.
Of the 31 million people who use the prepayment system, he
said, 15 million are with the state-owned insurance company PT
Askes, one million with the state-owned Jamsostek company, one
million with private health insurance companies and 14 million
with community financing institutions.
Sujudi stressed that everyone has the right to better medical
treatment. "The improvement of medical care quality is the main
issue now and in the future," he said.
In addition to the state-owned health insurance companies,
there are about 10 private health insurance companies.
There have been persistent reports of complaints about the
insurance companies' poor services and efficiency, such as the
lack of representative offices in the hospitals. Other complaints
included participants being asked to pay extra for medicines.
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