President Jokowi: BPJS Kesehatan Office in IKN Aims to Improve Healthcare Access

President Jokowi during the groundbreaking ceremony of BPJS Kesehatan office in the IKN area in North Penajam Paser regency, East Kalimantan province, Friday (03/01) (PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Rahmat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Friday (01/03) led the groundbreaking ceremony of the Healthcare and Social Security Agency’s (BPJS Kesehatan) office in the Nusantara Capital (IKN) area in North Penajam Paser regency, East Kalimantan province.

“I would like to express my gratitude for the development of the BPJS Kesehatan office in the Nusantara Capital. Previously we have done groundbreaking ceremony for the financial industry cluster. Today, we have done [the groundbreaking of] the BPJS Kesehatan office. There are already five hospitals in the construction process, so it will complement the health services in the Nusantara Capital for people living here and certainly for all people throughout Indonesia,” the President said.

On that occasion, President Jokowi expressed appreciation for the improvement in management carried out by the BPJS Kesehatan in providing health services to the public.

“I remember that in 2015-2016 I often held meetings with the BPJS Kesehatan on deficit matters. But for many years I haven’t had any meetings with them, meaning the BPJS Kesehatan’s management is very good,” the President added.

President Jokowi further said that he used to receive complaints from the public about the services of the BPJS Kesehatan. However, he continued, the service has significantly improved.

“In 2015, 2016, 2017, every time I inspected hospitals with BPJS Kesehatan services, there were many complaints including the long queues. Since 2020, when I inspected hospitals, the change has been very drastic, very good,” he said.

Furthermore, the President appreciated the increase in the coverage of BPJS Kesehatan participants, which currently reaches 267 million people.

“I also would like to express my appreciation that the participants of the BPJS Kesehatan have reached 267 million people, meaning that it accounts for 95.7 percent of our total population,” he remarked. (TGH/UN) (AP/MUR)