Minister Of Health Budi: BPJS Health Contributions Must Increase

JAKARTA - Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin said adjustments were needed to be made to BPJS Health contributions. This is because the last BPJS Health contribution increased in 2020.

During that period, continued Budi, there was health inflation which reached 15 percent per year. For that reason, according to him, BPJS Health's finances will not be able to survive if there is no increase in contributions.

"If we pay attention, the BPJS last increased by 2020 tariffs, now it's 5 years. Every year it increases by 15 percent, it's impossible, the current money can bear the 15 percent increase," he said in a working meeting with Commission IX of the DPR, quoted from the YouTube account of Commission IX of the DPR RI, Tuesday, February 11.

According to Budi, this tariff increase opens a popular policy, but still needs to be conveyed. If there is no increase, continued Budi, it will be dangerous for BPJS Kesehatan and the community.

"Indeed, this is not something popular, but you have to say that, right, if we don't, we will explode at the end, it's even dangerous. We better tell you honestly, that with an increase in health inflation of 10 to 15 percent per year, while BPJS rates don't increase by 5 years, that's impossible, so we have to go up," he said.

Even so, Budi said that the increase in BPJS Health contributions must be carried out fairly so that small communities are not burdened. Therefore, he proposed specifically for small communities to be borne 100 percent.

"If it goes up, now we have to be fair, how can the poor not get hit, that's our job, right. That's why the poor will still cover 100 percent of PBI (Recipients of Iuran Assistance)," he said.

"What will increase means the burden is the government, and the government is okay constitutionally, it's our job to provide health services," he continued.

Budi said that in the discussion on the increase in BPJS Health contributions, there were several factors that needed to be considered. Such as how much increase in contributions, how much health spending, to see other ASEAN countries.

I asked all ASEAN, how much is GDP spending, all of which are on average 4, 5, 6 percent. Thailand is just a bit high, 6 percent, the others are 5 percent, Singapore is a bit high, 7 percent. So that's the figure around that," he said.