Kenius Kogoya (Jubi)
Jayapura , 6/2 (Jubi) – Many Papuans appear to be unaware of the National Health Insurance ( JKN ), more than a month after it was rolled out in January, a Papua provincial legislator said.
“My observation is that JKN, which managed by BPJS, is still unclear. Maybe it has not been socialized widely. We hope this program is already well known or understood by the community so that they can use them,” said the chairman of the Commission E on health at the Papua Legislative Council (DPR Papua), Kenius Kogoya, on Thursday (2/6).
He said the program may have gone smoothly in the cities but it may have not taken off in villages and remote areas.
“Moreover, the application process for this program is a little complicated. We hope that the local government can help communities so that this service can be properly accessed,” he said.
“Moreover, the application process for this program is a little complicated. We hope that the local government can help communities so that this service can be properly accessed,” he said.
Kenius said the premium of Rp.19.000 was to small for Papua, where living cost in higher compared to other regions.
“Not to mention the problem of doctors. The provincial government should think of how to give incentives to physicians so that their income is commensurate to their work,” he said.
The Healthy Papua Card (KPS) has better coverage than JKN. Some drugs that are not covered by JKN can be covered under the KPS program.
The governor has urged private hospitals to take part in the KPS program so that the patients do not inundate government hospitals.
Earlier the secretary of the Jayapura branch of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI), Dr. Raflus Doranggi, said the implementation of JKN throughout Indonesia has to be evaluated. He said there needs to be special laboratories and pharmacies for JKN patients so that doctors will not have to incur losses.
“For example a JKN patient visitiing a doctor will be charged Rp.8.000 . But if the patient is given a prescription to buy drugs at the pharmacy, the bill will have to be paid by the doctor, not the patient. Well if there are many patients, doctors practice may have to pay more than they should, not to mention the possibility of drug prices increasing,” said Raflus Doranggi.
Doctors in public health centers and hospitals do not have such problems because they do not have to pay drug bills. (Jubi/Arjuna/Frans)
