BPJS Needs To Give Priority To 1.8 Million People

Jakarta, Jan 2 (Antara) - The Social Security Providers (BPJS) has to give priority attention to about 1.8 million people with community and social problems (PMKS), a social affairs ministry official stated, here on Thursday. "These are the neglected lot of people such as street children, elderly, disabled persons and loiterers who have to be given priority during the validation process in the coming six months, as they still stay in houses for street children," stated Sapto Waluyu, expert staff of the Ministry of Social Affairs for public relations and governance. He noted that Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri had signed a Social Affairs Minister`s Decree No. 146 and No. 147/HUK/2013 per December 23 on the criteria of the poor and on the recipients of contribution assistance (PBI). Based on the Law on National Security System (UU SJSN) No.40/2004, the Law on Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) No. 24/2011 and Law on the Handling of the Poor No. 13/2011, the Social Affairs Minister shall decide on the recipients of contribution assistance (PBI) from the underprivileged group of people. The number of underprivileged registered with the PBI list stood at 86.4 million people with a budget set aside for it amounting to Rp19.3 trillion. The implementation of the BPJS has also sparked a protest because based on the Social Safety Net Program Data Collection (PPLS) in 2011 there were 96.7 million poor people. If the PBI list only covers 86.4 million, it means that there will be 10.3 million poor people who will not benefit from the services. Social observer Dr Bagus Aryo noted that data accuracy will decide the success of the BPJS. "The people who are not yet included in the PBI list could be covered with the regional social insurance (Jamkesda) funds based on their respective domiciles. Then they should gradually be integrated into the BPJS system," Bagus Aryo explained. He added that the ministry of social affairs should ensure that the data integration takes place as soon as possible so that there will not be any poor with no access to health security service wherever they are. Aryo gave a positive response to the implementation of the BPJS on health which was introduced on January 1, and which will continue with the introduction of yet another BPJS in the manpower sector in 2015. "This is one of the characteristics of a prospering nation as suggested by the Indonesian Constitution. The state is obligated to provide social security for its citizens. Thus, Indonesia has now entered the era of universal health coverage in its social security system where as advanced nations have had such systems in the post World War II period," he emphasized.