President Seeks All-Party Support to Successfully Implement BPJS Health Insurance

Bogor, W Java (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has urged all parties associated with the implementation of the Social Security Organizing Body (BPJS) on health affairs to work towards making the program a success. "Therefore, my instruction to all relevant parties such as the central government, regional governments, BPJS health insurance, hospitals, and all health facilities is ensure that this important and historic program is a success," the president stated after a limited cabinet meeting here on Monday. President Yudhoyono held a limited cabinet meeting in the Bogor Palace, West Java, to review the final preparations for the implementation of the BPJS health insurance scheme scheduled to commence on January 1, 2014. President Yudhoyono will officially launch the BPJS health insurance scheme on December 31, thus kick-starting its implementation on January 1, 2014. "I hope everything is in place," the head of state added. The government has allocated Rp19.93 trillion in the 2014 state budget for the health insurance program, in an effort to protect the 86.4 million people, who are poor and unemployed. Meanwhile, the other citizens can contribute by paying monthly premiums at affordable prices, in order to obtain health insurance. The insurance scheme will enable to serve better justice, especially for the poor, as they will now be covered by health insurance. He added that the implementation of the BPJS will be a historical development in Indonesia. According to the President, the government has set up 12 government regulations of five presidential decrees to support the implementation of the social welfare programs. Implementation of the program is the embodiment of the Law 40/2004 on the National Social Security System and the Law 24/2011 on the BPJS. (*)