Millions of Indonesians Disadvantaged

Millions of Indonesians and participants of the JKN program are disadvantaged by idle capitation funds at community health centers (Puskesmas) as first-level healthcare facilities.

KOMPAS/RYAN RINALDY

A nurse checks the blood pressure of a patient at a community health center (Puskesmas) in Tajur Halang, Bogor regency, West Java, on Saturday. The checkup was conducted before the patient consulted with the physician at the Puskesmas.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Millions of Indonesians and participants of the national health insurance (JKN) program are disadvantaged by idle capitation funds at community health centers (Puskesmas) as first-level healthcare facilities. Idle capitation funds at Puskesmas across Indonesia, which reached Rp 3.02 trillion (US$220.46 million) at the end of 2016, were not used to add more medical professionals. This is despite doctor-to-patient ratios at many Puskesmas being way below the ideal ratio. Lines of patients are often found in many Puskesmas.

Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) chief Moermahadi Soerja Djanegara said poor capitation fund absorption must be a serious concern and that planning and implementation mechanisms must be improved. “There must be standards of performance assessment. If something is not working, it must not be given budget allocation,” Moermahadi said after a meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (5/4/2018).