RI's life expectancy lowest in ASEAN

JAKARTA: Indonesia's life expectancy rated the lowest among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as most Indonesians could not afford medical services, an official at the Ministry of Health said here Thursday.

"The life expectancy rate of Indonesians is 65 years, Bruneians, 76, Singaporeans, 77, Malaysians, 72, Thais, 72, Filipinos, 69, and Vietnamese, 68," said director general for public health development, Azrul Azwar, after a hearing with the House Commission VII for population and welfare.

He said the absence of a compulsory National Health Insurance (JKN) scheme was to blame for the people's inability to finance their medical care.

"Most Indonesians pay for their medical care in cash. Thus, only rich citizens or those taking part in health insurance programs can afford medical services," he said.

The government had completed a bill on national health guarantee, he said, adding that once the bill was endorsed into law, every Indonesian citizen would be required to take part in the JKN scheme by paying premiums of up to 6 percent of their monthly salary or income. -- Antara