For many of us, reports of the Rp 9 trillion (US$ 630 million) deficit the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) is suffering come almost as a foregone conclusion. Ever since it was launched in 2014, BPJS Kesehatan has been struggling to stay financially healthy. The universal healthcare scheme has been beset by financial deficits and has only been viable because of the massive subsidies injected by the government. Questions linger over the scheme’s long term sustainability in providing health care to Indonesians, particularly those most in need. As pointed out by BPJS Kesehatan director Fahmi Idris, much of the problem lies with the low compliance rate in paying premiums. Now in its fourth consecutive year of deficit, it is imperative that the government comes up with an alternative course of action to secure the insurance scheme without putting unnecessa...

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