The second, titled Prinsip Dasar Sistem Jaminan Sosial dan Asuransi Kesehatan (Basic principles of social and health insurance system), delves into the fundamentals of social insurance and health insurance, including insights into the JKN Program, Basic Health Needs (KDK) and Standard Inpatient Class (KRIS), as well as coverage upgrades, cost sharing mechanisms, anti-fraud programs and the agency’s digital transformation.

"It hasn't been easy to enroll over 97 percent of the Indonesian population as JKN participants in 10 years. At the same time, BPJS Kesehatan is also tasked with enhancing the satisfaction of JKN participants by providing easy, fast and equitable services.

“Through hard work and collaboration with all parties, BPJS Kesehatan has managed to overcome various challenges in realizing universal health coverage in Indonesia," Ghufron said at the double book launch on Friday.

Ghufron said that the national health insurance had just 114 million members in 2014, and that as of May 10, 2024, JKN membership had soared to more than 271.2 million.

Usage of the JKN program has also continued to rise, from 92.3 million per year in 2014 to 606.6 million per year in 2023, demonstrating the significant impact the national health insurance scheme has had on society.

BPJS Kesehatan has continually improved its services over time, as evidenced in the growing number of healthcare facilities partnering with the agency. It has also developed many digital innovations to facilitate access for policyholders, healthcare facilities, the government and other stakeholders.

Ghufron added that the digitalization of BPJS Kesehatan services had contributed to the transformation of the national health system.

"With services like Administrative Services via WhatsApp [PANDAWA], the Mobile JKN application and the BPJS Kesehatan Care Center 165, people can deal with administration, request information or lodge complaints about the JKN program simply, through their mobile phones. During the pandemic, the PCare application used by Tier 1 Health Facilities (FKTPs) partnering with BPJS Kesehatan across Indonesia accelerated the COVID-19 vaccination [rollout],” he said.

“Previously, JKN participants needed [to provide] photocopies of personal documents to seek medical care. Now, showing their National Identification Number (NIK) is sufficient, as long as their JKN membership is active and they follow the procedures. Of course, there are many other innovations," Ghufron explained.

BPJS Kesehatan had also created i-Care JKN, an innovative application that allows JKN members and doctors to access the member’s visit record over the last 12 months, so doctors can deliver faster and more accurate services.

At Friday’s event, BPJS Kesehatan also launched BUGAR, a new health monitoring feature on the Mobile JKN app. BUGAR offers facilities to JKN members such as monitoring vital signs, physical measurements and a pedometer for keeping track of daily steps, calories burned and walking distance. The BUGAR feature also monitor the user’s quality of sleep and caloric intake.

"I believe every generation has its own way of seeking and digesting information, including through social media. Therefore, I have tried to write songs and upload them on the official social media accounts of BPJS Kesehatan,” said Ghufron, who has penned a total of seven songs during his career at the agency.

“There are songs about the importance of enrolling as JKN participants, how BPJS Kesehatan services are now much easier [to access], cautioning people [against] believing in hoaxes and more. These songs serve as a means of public dissemination due to their universal nature, so they are easily accepted and understood by all age groups."

Representing the Health Minister, the head of the ministry’s Health Development Policy Agency (BKPK), Syarifah Liza Munira, expressed appreciation for the efforts of BPJS Kesehatan in providing health insurance and managing healthcare costs.

She also noted that further collaboration was needed to strengthen health services at FKTPs, including the expansion of health screenings.

"Social insurance in Indonesia should be introduced to the younger generation. The launch of these books is in line with the Social Insurance Module in the 2023 National Curriculum. Through increased literacy, it is hoped that society’s understanding of social insurance will be more evenly spread, whether related to health or employment," said Agus Suprapto, chairman of the National Social Insurance Council (DJSN).

Meanwhile, Emanuel Melkiades, deputy chairman of House of Representatives Commission IX overseeing health and manpower, said BPJS Kesehatan had fulfilled its duty of administering the JKN program. He also noted that at a United Nations Forum he attended some time ago, BPJS Kesehatan received appreciation from many countries worldwide.

"In the past, private hospitals were selective about cooperating with BPJS Kesehatan. Now, private hospitals rely heavily on BPJS Kesehatan. Currently, around 64 percent of all private hospitals in Indonesia collaborate with BPJS Kesehatan. Looking ahead, there is a need to improve service quality at hospitals so they are more effective and efficient," said Iing Ichsan Hanafi, chairman of the Indonesian Private Hospitals Association (ARSSI), who attended the event virtually.

Timboel Siregar, advocacy coordinator at BPJS Watch, said the newly launched books showed the BPJS Kesehatan’s continuous improvements and that this must be maintained in the future. Meanwhile, Tulus Abadi, daily chairman of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI), expressed his hope that the two titles would enhance the efforts to increase literacy in Indonesia about the JKN and social insurance.

"There are five things that can be learned from these books,” said Arifin Arsydhad, chairman of the Chief Editors Forum (Pemred).

“First, leadership. Passionate individuals are needed to manage BPJS Kesehatan. Second, healthcare access will hopefully improve further and be accompanied by existing ecosystems. Third, service orientation is already outstanding, with proactive efforts to clarify information. Fourth, its use of technology is remarkable. Fifth, education and [awareness] are ongoing, both for the public and health facility providers," he said.

The event was also attended by BPJS Kesehatan Supervisory Board chairman Abdul Kadir, World Bank senior health specialist Somil Nagpal and, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) rector Ova Emilia.

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