Troubled Participants' Deficit And Data, IAW Warns BPJS Service Threats

Illustration of BPJS Kesehatan (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Audit Watch (IAW) assesses that the Social Security Administration (BPJS) is in a crucial phase of leadership succession. According to IAW, the chaotic management of institutions that deal with hundreds of trillions of funds and public health services has the potential to pose a serious threat if they are not addressed immediately.

IAW's Founder Secretary, Iskandar Sitorus, highlighted the role of the National Social Security Council (DJSN) which he said exceeded his authority by forming an unprofessional selection committee (pansel).

"This is not just a violation of procedures, this is a time bomb for fiscal stability and health services of 278 million Indonesians. President Prabowo Subianto's government must break this axis before it explodes," said Iskandar, Sunday, September 7.

IAW said that the audit results of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) over the past decade showed that BPJS management had not been completed. In 2019, the deficit had reached IDR 125 trillion before it was reduced to IDR 32.4 trillion in 2023 through an increase in contributions. Subsidies for participants receiving contribution assistance (PBI) from the 2024 State Budget also swelled to IDR 53.6 trillion.

In addition, participant data is considered chaotic due to dual or invalid NIK, while claims of catatropic diseases such as heart and cancer last year reached Rp34.7 trillion. "This deficit is a red light for national health," said Iskandar.

Iskandar also highlighted the existence of a former BPJS official who was proposed to be a member of the Pansel, even though Presidential Decree No. 81/2015 prohibits the Pansel from concurrently serving as a board of directors or supervisory board candidate. Members of the Pansel should be experts in finance, economy, or banking, not just observers or former problematic officials," he said.

According to IAW, this kind of recruitment pattern makes the independence of DJSN doubtful. "By choosing for yourself, then supervising the directors he chose, it is clear that objectivity is difficult to maintain," he added.

Due to this condition, IAW recommended five quick steps: withdrawing the proposed South Korean committee from DJSN, conducting a thorough independent audit, submitting a judicial review to the Supreme Court regarding DJSN's authority, opening the full transparency of financial reports, and ensuring that public services are not disrupted.

"BPJS is a constitutional promise to protect the people, not political toys. President Prabowo must act decisively so that people's funds are safe and health services remain viable," concluded Iskandar.