Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Friendly Meeting with BPJS Health Assistance Recipients in Blora Regency, Central Java Province, January 23, 2024

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Good afternoon,

May prosperity be upon all of us.

Distinguished Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Prof. Muhadjir, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Dr. Basuki;

Distinguished host of this event, Minister of Health, Mr. Budi Gunadi Sadikin. Although serving as the Minister of Health, Mr. Budi is not a medical doctor. He previously served as the President Director of Bank Mandiri (a state-owned bank) and was appointed as the Minister of Health immediately after serving in the bank sector;

Distinguished [Acting] Governor of Central Java, Regent of Blora Regency;

Distinguished all BPJS (the national healthcare program) participants whom I respect;

And, Distinguished Director of BPJS. I almost forgot that she is the BPJS’s leader;

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

Mr. Minister of Health has previously stated that the total number of people who have BPJS cards is now 267 million, already more than 95 percent [of Indonesia’s population]. There is no country as big as Indonesia in the world whose people can go to the hospital and are not charged for the services. Otherwise, the contributions of 96 million of the 267 million people are covered by the Government’s state budget.

However, problems still occur. In the past, patients had to pay for all services they needed. For example, they had to pay Rp5 million for dialysis, while patients who have to undergo dialysis have to do it every two weeks. Imagine how hard it is. Or, if someone who has heart disease has to go to hospital and has to pay for the services himself or herself, he or she would have to spend tens or even hundreds of millions rupiahs. Now, dialysis treatment can be made free of charge. Treatment for many illnesses can be made free of charge too. But the problem is that the hospitals are often full.

I saw earlier this morning that the community health center in Grobogan was also full. Yesterday I saw that the public hospital in Salatiga was also overwhelmed. Therefore, staying healthy is very important to us. Don’t be happy about being sick. Just because you have KIS (the Healthy Indonesia Card) or the BPJS card, then you will be OK to be sick. Do you like to be sick? You certainly don’t, do you? That’s great. Take the KIS/BPJS cards just in case you’re sick. You will not be charged if you are sick and need medical treatment.

Most importantly, you must always keep yourselves healthy. You have to control your diet strictly especially if you are over 60 [years old]. I see that many of you are over 60 [years old]. Take really good care of your sugar levels and cholesterol levels. Avoid eating fatty meat. Avoid drinking too sweet beverages. If you want some sugar, just take only a little. Even if you can abstain completely from sugar, do it for your own good. Never add too much sugar to your iced tea. Even though it’s delicious, it’s really unhealthy for us.

Also, be careful with rice. Rice has a high sugar content. I used to eat much rice, but now I’ve reduced it to a quarter portion. Eat more vegetables. Is that right, Mr. Doctor? Eat more vegetables and more fruits. Don’t forget to do physical exercise. It’s important especially for those whose bodies are large. Be careful with sugar and cholesterol, you have to take really good care of their levels in your body.

Let’s get back to our previous topic. We see that many hospitals are full. Even from dawn, people already start queuing to get a number. So, now people are aware of the importance of health. But it is better to maintain our health from the very beginning. We must observe our dietary patterns and exercise patterns properly to keep ourselves healthy.

Has anyone used KIS (the Healthy Indonesia Card) yet? Raise your hands. Is there anyone here whose illness is rather serious? What about you? What is your illness? Stomach upset? Oh, you have a stomach upset. Please come here, I want to interview you.

Is there anyone else who has KIS? Who has used it? Is there anyone who has used KIS for dialysis? I hope no one here has ever. Is there anyone here who has used KIS for mild illness treatment? However, if your illness is only mild, like coughing, you better don’t go to hospital. Just go to the community health center. Nowadays, people tend to go to hospital, even though their illnesses are not serious. That will easily overwhelm hospitals, right? OK. Please introduce yourself, Sir. Say your name.

 

BPJS participant

My name is Sugito, from Bangkle neighborhood.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Mr. Sugito from Bangkle. OK Mr. Sugito, what is your illness?

 

BPJS participant

I often have a stomach upset.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Oh, you have a stomach upset. Do you go directly to the hospital or do you visit the community health center first when you get sick?

 

BPJS participant

I go directly to the hospital.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Why do you go directly to the hospital and not have your illness checked first at the community health center?

 

BPJS participant

Usually I looked for medical treatment when my illness already got so serious that I almost fainted.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Oh, I see. How serious is your illness? Could you please tell me?

 

BPJS participant

I have a stomach upset and also suffer from asthma, that’s it.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

So, you are suffering from both stomach upset and asthma. It’s really serious. Which one can you hardly stand? The stomach upset? Is it actually a problem with your stomach acid or is it gastritis?

 

BPJS participant

It is not gastritis but stomach upset. Within the last two years, I have been treated four times at the hospital.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Treated four times at the hospital within the last two years? Oh, I see. What did the doctor tell you? What is your illness according to the doctor?

 

BPJS participant

I often eat late.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Eating late, that’s it. Why should you eat late? Knowing that you have stomach upset, you have to discipline yourself to take meals at the right time. Even if you eat only a little, you have to discipline yourself. So, what do you use when you go to the hospital? Do you use your KIS (Healthy Indonesia Card)?

 

BPJS participant

Yes, I use my KIS.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

OK, come a little closer please. Are you charged for the services?

 

BPJS participant

No.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

No. Are you charged with any administration fees?

 

BPJS participant

No.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

No. And then?

 

BPJS participant

The treatment is very good.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

I see. What kind of hospital do you often go to and where?

 

BPJS participant

General Hospital.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Blora Regional General Hospital?

 

BPJS participant

Yes, Blora.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Oh, I see. Is the head of the hospital present here? Is he or she not present here? It’s okay. Mr. Regent, he said that the hospital’s services are great. It means good. As a matter of fact, hospitals and doctors must serve communities as best they can. So, are you also provided with the medicines by the pharmacy or by the hospital?

 

BPJS participant

Yes.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Are you charged for the medicines?

 

BPJS participant

No.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Are you ever charged with any other fees?

 

BPJS participant

No.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

No other fees charged?

 

BPJS participant

No.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Okay, it’s good. So, for how many years have you been treated? Two years? Have you recovered now?

 

BPJS participant

I feel recovered but sometimes I fall ill again.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

You feel recovered but sometimes you fall ill again. It means that you haven’t completely recovered. Therefore, correct your eating habit. For example, eat only a little in the morning, have a little snack a few hours later, eat on time in the afternoon, have a little snack again a few hours later, and so, you can always keep your stomach filled up. Do you think I already act like a doctor while I’m supposed to avoid any misinformation? As a matter of fact, I have the same experience as Mr. Sugito. And I make myself get used to it. It’s almost impossible to recover within only 1.5 years, right? OK, thank you very much. Do you have any message to the doctor or to the hospital or to Mr. Regent?

 

BPJS participant

No, Sir.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

OK, if you don’t have any. Anyway, thank you Mr. Sugito for having come up to the stage. Mr. Sugito, because you have come on stage, been willing to be interviewed and also expressed your opinion honestly, I give you a bicycle as a gift. Be careful, it’s a new bicycle. It’s also expensive. It’s worth a car because it’s not an ordinary bicycle. It’s expensive because it bears a notice that reads ‘President Jokowi’s Gift’. That’s what makes it expensive.

Is there anyone present here who knows Pancasila by heart? Raise your hands. Is there anyone here among the KIS holders who knows Pancasila by heart? Anyone among the BPJS card holders? Doctors are not allowed to raise their hands. OK, I choose this lady to recite Pancasila from memory. Please, introduce yourself.

 

BPJS participant

Let me introduce myself. My name is Devi Anggraeni from Bangkle.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Who? Why only people from Bangkle? Are you a BPJS card holder? Did you bring your card here? Let me see it.

 

BPJS participant

It’s on my cellphone, Sir.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

It’s okay.

 

BPJS participant

It’s KIS (the Healthy Indonesia Card), Sir.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Oh, it’s KIS. OK.

 

BPJS participant

I just used it yesterday.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

But have you used it yet?

 

BPJS participant

Yes, I have.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

So, you have used it before.

 

BPJS participant

I used it for an operation.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Is there any charge for the operation?

 

BPJS participant

Thank God, not at all.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Not at all. What about the medicines?

 

BPJS participant

They are also free of charge.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Everything free of charge? OK. I mention this to inform the others that the Government is currently making full efforts to reduce people’s burden in the health sector and in the education sector. In the health sector, the Government has launched the KIS, while in the education sector the Government has launched the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP) and KIP for University Students. The Government has also increases the budget for education. As I can recall, it reaches more than Rp11 trillion. So, our children should no longer be afraid if they want to pursue higher education in universities because the Government has given its guarantee through KIP for University Students.

Go ahead ma’am, could you please say again your name?

 

BPJS participant

Devi.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

OK, Devi. Start reciting Pancasila.

 

BPJS participant

Pancasila

First, Belief in One Almighty God;

Second, Humanity that…

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Repeat again. Pancasila ….

 

BPJS participant

Pancasila

First, Belief in One Almighty God;

Second, Just and Civilized Humanity;

Third, Indonesian Unity;

Fourth, Democracy Led by Wisdom in Deliberation/Representation;

It’s wrong, isn’t it, Sir?

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Repeat again, slowly. Pancasila …

 

BPJS participant

Pancasila.

First, Belief in One Almighty God;

Second, Just and Civilized Humanity;

Third, Indonesian Unity;

Fourth, Democracy Led by Wisdom in Deliberation/Representation;

Fifth, Social Justice for All Indonesian People.

 

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

That’s right. Ladies and Gentlemen, don’t think that reciting Pancasila from memory is easy. When you reciting it while sitting, it’s easy. But when you have to recite it on stage near me, your mind could suddenly go blank. You immediately forget it. That’s very often the case, while actually you have no problem reciting it. OK, thank you very much. I’ve given the bike. Usually, if I tell somebody to go up on stage, I will definitely give him or her a bicycle as a gift.

I just want to meet with all of you to make sure that KIS and BPJS cards are very useful for our people. That’s what I want to inform you and what I want to know. So I went in yesterday, went to the hospital, went to the community health center this morning and asked people, in order to make sure that KIS and BPJS cards are very beneficial for our people. And, I’m happy that everyone has confirmed it straightforwardly, right? I also randomly asked questions to several people to ensure that the Healthy Indonesia Cards and BPJS cards are truly beneficial for the whole community.

That concludes my remarks on this good opportunity. Thank you for your presence, ladies and gentlemen.

I hereby close this meeting.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

 

(TM/LW)