Patchwork Approach Persists in Resolving JKN Deficit
The government has injected another round of financial aid to the Healthcare and Social Service Agency (BPJS Kesehatan), to help it overcome the national health insurance (JKN) scheme’s burgeoning deficit. However, such aid will only be effective in the short term.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Many believe that the government is relying on a patchwork approach to resolve the JKN scheme’s lack of funds. The deficit persists even after the government’s financial injection of Rp 4.9 trillion (US$328.77 million) this year.
Financial deficit has been the name of the game at BPJS Kesehatan since the National Health Insurance-Indonesia Health Card (JKN-KIS) scheme was implemented in 2014. The deficit is estimated to be between Rp 800 billion and Rp 1 trillion a month. Since 2015, the government has repeatedly injected funds into the scheme, but they has always been less than the deficit.