Former bankers and politicians are among other professionals on the board of directors and supervisory body of two social security agencies inaugurated by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Tuesday.

The West Kalimantan administration has called on all parties to be more aware of the importance of health protection as less than 50 percent of residents in the province have registered in the National Health Insurance (JKN) program, which is managed by the Social Security Agency (BPJS).

House of Representatives Commission IX overseeing demographic affairs, health, manpower and transmigration has rejected a price hike proposed by the government's health insurance scheme, organized by the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan), because of supposed insubstantial reasoning on the part of the government.

A 76-year-old Cuban woman who invited President Barack Obama to her Havana home received a response from the US leader Thursday in one of the first letters to travel directly to Cuba in decades.

The government is working to implement new categories of inpatient coverage for National Health Insurance (JKN) in 2022, as part of its efforts to restructure benefits for policyholders and ensure the deficit-stricken program’s sustainability.

In a coordination meeting chaired by Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, Anies and Doni highlighted the fact that Jakarta’s satellite cities continued to have lax social-distancing rules while Jakarta had imposed stricter measures.

Legal technicalities aside, the government must have expected the outrage, coming in the face of hardships under the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

While the government’s effort in ramping up the social protection system is worthy of appreciation, top-down integration of the different components is needed in order to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of the whole program.

On Jan. 1, premiums for the National Health Insurance (JKN) will increase, affecting around 222.8 million people covered under the program.

Unless the government wants to continue to bail out the national healthcare program, which is untenable in the long run, any solution that helps to reduce expenditure is worth a try.

Indonesia’s universal healthcare scheme is one of the most generous and biggest in many ways. While the scheme has successfully provided more people with healthcare services, the facilities and funding to support it are deteriorating.

After five years, the National Health Insurance (JKN) operated by the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan), has faced several hiccups. Amid election tensions, it would not be surprising if issues around the JKN arise even more.

The Jakarta administration plans to require all hospitals in the capital to become partners of the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan).

The Jakarta Health Agency has urged hospitals in the city to treat critically ill patients who are registered with the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) and require intensive care unit treatment without requiring them to make an initial payment.

Parents of Tiara Deborah Simanjorang, an infant who died after reportedly being turned away by a West Jakarta hospital because of financial constraints, have demanded an apology from the hospital.

The death of 4-month-old Tiara Deborah Simanjorang over the weekend at Mitra Keluarga Hospital in West Jakarta has brought questions regarding the responsibility of healthcare providers in helping poor patients, and if long the process mandated by the Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) had contributed to the tragedy.

The Jakarta administration has threatened to cut the Jakarta Smart Card (KJP) and Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS) facilities of those caught encroaching on sidewalks.

Researchers are urging the government to tap into big data to optimize the National Health Insurance (JKN) program, which has suffered financial deficits since its establishment.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Indonesia in March, South Tangerang, Banten, resident Tinto Arianto Wibowo's 2-year-old son's hospital visits became even more frequent, draining him financially. His son had long suffered fevers, coughing and a lump on his neck and the hospital advised him to go to another hospital as it suspected he had COVID-19.

Recycling is the red line that connects low-income earners and their need for proper medical treatment.