Viral Patient Dies After Waiting 8 Hours, BPJS Health Emphasizes JKN Participant Rights

BPJS Kesehatan emphasized that the rights of every participant in the National Health Insurance (JKN) program remain a top priority. This affirmation was conveyed following the viral case of a BPJS Kesehatan participant patient who died after allegedly waiting for about eight hours to get a treatment room at the hospital.

Head of Public Relations of BPJS Kesehatan Rizzky Anugerah said that his party was interested in ensuring that every JKN participant with active membership status received health service guarantees in accordance with the applicable rights and provisions.

"What we need to emphasize is that as long as the registered participants are active in the JKN program and meet the medical indications, their health services are guaranteed by BPJS Kesehatan and the health facilities that cooperate must provide the necessary health services," said Rizzky in an official statement, Wednesday, August 5.

Rizzky explained that hospitals as partner health facilities have the obligation to provide services in accordance with government standards and regulations, including providing easy, fast, equal, and non-discriminatory services to all patients, including JKN participants.

According to Rizzky, in inpatient services, hospitals do have a bed management mechanism that is adjusted to the capacity and medical condition of the patient. However, JKN participants are still entitled to receive health services according to medical indications and their class of care.

"In the Minister of Health Regulation Number 28 of 2014 concerning Guidelines for Implementing the National Health Insurance Program, it is stated that if the inpatient room according to the participant's right is not available, the hospital can place the patient in an inpatient room one level above his right for a maximum of three days without additional charge. Meanwhile, if all inpatient rooms are not available, the hospital can refer to other health facilities that are equivalent and have inpatient service availability," said Rizzky.

To increase the ease of access to information for participants, BPJS Kesehatan also provides a bed availability information feature on the JKN Mobile application. This feature allows participants to independently monitor the availability of beds in hospitals before accessing health services.

BPJS Kesehatan also continues to encourage partner hospitals to update bed availability data periodically so that the information received by participants remains accurate.

In addition, BPJS Kesehatan has a BPJS SATU! (Ready to Help) officer at partner hospitals to provide information, assistance, and help find solutions to various obstacles faced by participants during service.

"In the future, we hope that coordination and synergy between stakeholders in the JKN ecosystem can continue to be improved, both between BPJS Health, health facilities, and other related parties. With increasingly strong collaboration, we are optimistic that health services for JKN participants can run more optimally, responsive, and oriented towards the needs and safety of patients," concluded Rizzky.

The statement from BPJS Kesehatan came after a case of a JKN participant patient became the focus of attention on social media. The patient was reported to have died after allegedly having to wait for about eight hours to get a treatment room at the hospital.

Based on information circulating, the patient's family had previously tried to get a hospital room. However, the patient is said to have not received a room due to limitations or the lack of treatment rooms.

During this waiting period, the patient's condition was reported to continue to worsen until he eventually died. The length of time waiting for a treatment room then became a spotlight and raised questions about the mechanism for handling JKN patients when the room is not available for the participant's right.

The case has become more of a concern after a number of health workers on social media have posted that they are considered to be insulting or intimidating patients and their families. The response triggered criticism from netizens because it was considered not to reflect empathy for families who are grieving.

In the midst of the controversy, BPJS Kesehatan emphasized that the unavailability of rooms according to the participants' class rights should not necessarily stop access to services. Hospitals can temporarily place patients in a higher level one class without additional costs in accordance with the provisions or make a referral if all inpatient rooms are not available.

The case of the patient who died after waiting for a treatment room for about eight hours also became a spotlight on the importance of speed of treatment, coordination between health facilities, and certainty of services for JKN participants, especially when the patient's condition requires immediate treatment.