President Jokowi Will Remove Hospital Heads Who Charge KIP Holders

President Joko Widodo talks with a resident at Suasio Terminal, Galela Subdistrict, North Halmahera Regency, North Sulawesi Province, on Wednesday (6/4) afternoon

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo asserted that Healthy Indonesia Card (KIS) holders do not need to pay if they are referred to hospital for treatment.

Therefore, President Jokowi emphasized that the Government would remove heads of hospitals who charge the KIS holders.

“If there is a hospital that charges the KIS holders, I will check and I might remove the head of the hospital or the doctors from their positions. It is because they actually pay but they are paid by the State,” the President said when distributing social assistances in the forms of the Aspiring Family Program (PKH), the Social Assistance Program for Severely Disabled People (ASPDB), the Social Assistance Card for Elderly (ASLUT), and the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP) at Suasio Terminal, Galela Subdistrict, North Halmahera Regency, North Sulawesi Province on Wednesday (6/4) afternoon.

President Jokowi also asked the students who have the KIP to use the money only for school needs.

“KIP holders for primary school students will get Rp 450,000, middle school students will get Rp 750,000 and Rp 1,000,000 for high school students. Is it enough? I believe it is enough. The money must be used for buying school supplies. Do not use the money for phone credit, otherwise, the card will be revoked,” the President said.

On that occasion, President Jokowi, who was accompanied by First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo, took his time to have a dialog with several people and to listen to their complaints.

President Jokowi, as usual, gave bicycles to those who can answer his questions.

Accompanying the President and First Lady to the event were Minister of Transportation Ignasius Jonan, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Social Affairs Khofifah Indar Parawansa, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, and Governor of North Maluku Abdul Gani.

After distributing social assistances to the people in Galela Subdistrict, the President and his entourage headed to Pulau Morotai Regency, North Maluku, on CN-295, the Indonesian Air Force’s (TNI-AU) Aircraft.

The President and his entourage are scheduled to return to Jakarta via Morotai Indonesian Air Force’s Airport located in Pulau Morotai Regency.  (DNS/RAH/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)