The Story of Efendi, a Mobile Salt Trader Supported by JKN While Battling Diabetes
Ach Efendi, 59, traverses the streets of Pasuruan City every day, carrying salt from one shop to another. Through this simple trade, the resident of Panggungrejo, Pasuruan, strives to meet his family’s needs, despite an unpredictable income.
Behind his persistence in earning a living, Efendi must now cope with his health condition. He was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and must undergo routine monthly health checks at RSUD dr. R. Soedarsono.
Initially, Efendi discovered his high blood sugar levels during a free health screening in his village. The results showed his blood sugar had reached 300. However, because he felt physically strong enough to continue working, he initially ignored the condition and continued his activities as usual.
“At that time, I felt healthy and strong enough to work as usual, so I did not take the results too seriously. Therefore, I did not seek further medical examination,” Efhendi said when met at RSUD dr. R. Soedarsono on Monday, 25 May.
Over time, Efendi’s health began to decline. His leg experienced swelling and an increasingly severe infection. Seeing his condition worsen, his family immediately took him to the hospital for medical treatment.
“When my leg became infected, I was afraid because they said it could lead to amputation. Thankfully, my family took me to the hospital immediately,” said Efendi.
After an examination, doctors recommended surgery to prevent the infection from worsening. Hearing that he had to undergo surgery for the first time, Efendi admitted to feeling overwhelmed by fear and anxiety.
“I was afraid when told to undergo surgery because I had never undergone any surgery before. I was truly worried,” he said.
That anxiety gradually subsided after doctors and nurses provided patient explanations. Efendi finally understood that the medical procedure was necessary to prevent the infection from developing into a more serious risk.
“The doctors and nurses explained slowly until I felt calmer. I finally felt confident enough to undergo the surgery,” he added.
Amidst this period of worry, Efendi is grateful to be registered as a participant in the National Health Insurance (JKN) programme under the Contribution Assistance Recipient (PBI) segment, where premiums are covered by the government. This protection allowed him to undergo treatment without being burdened by costs he could not afford on his own.
“If it were not for BPJS Kesehatan, I would be confused about where to find the funds for medical treatment. My daily income is not sufficient,” said Efendi.
As a mobile salt trader, Efendi understands the difficulty of meeting needs when income is unstable. Therefore, the cost of surgery and medication was his greatest concern.
“The proceeds from selling salt are unpredictable; sometimes business is good, sometimes it is slow. To meet daily needs alone is often just enough, so if I had to pay for surgery and treatment myself, I would be unable to do so,” he noted.
Efendi had also heard negative stories regarding services for JKN participants. However, his experience was quite different. During his treatment, he felt well-served, attended to, and not discriminated against compared to other patients.
“During my treatment, I was served very well and looked after. The doctors were responsive and the nurses were friendly, which made me feel more at ease,” he said.
Now, amidst his routine of selling salt and undergoing monthly diabetes check-ups, Efendi hopes the JKN programme continues to assist low-income communities in accessing healthcare services. For him, peace of mind during illness is not just about the hope for recovery, but also about being free from the worry of medical expenses.
“I hope BPJS Kesehatan and the government continue to help small-scale citizens like us. Because there are still many people who want to heal but are hindered by costs,” Efendi concluded.