Minister Of Finance Purbaya Reveals Increase In BPJS Health Contributions Waiting For Economic Recovery

The Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, Purbaya Yudhi Sadive. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadivewa said that the government does not yet have a plan to increase BPJS Health contributions by 2026.

He explained that the government's current priority is to restore national economic conditions before considering policies that have the potential to increase the burden on the community.

"This is the economy that is just about to recover. We haven't run away. We don't make a fuss until the economy recovers," he told the media crew, Wednesday, October 22.

However, he said there was a possibility of revising BPJS contributions if Indonesia's economic growth in 2026 managed to exceed 6 percent.

"In the sense of growth, there are more than 6 percent. And they have started to get work easier, then we think of increasing the burden on the community," he explained.

Previously, the proposed increase in BPJS Health contributions was contained in Book II of the Financial Note and Draft of the 2026 State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (RAPBN).

In the document, it is stated that adjustment of contributions is needed to maintain a balance of financing responsibilities between participants, the central government, and local governments.

This upward plan is also designed to be carried out in stages, while still paying attention to the purchasing power of the public and the fiscal condition of the government.

Previously, Purbaya revealed that the government plans to remove arrears in BPJS Kesehatan contributions with a value of up to IDR 20 trillion.

The statement was conveyed after a meeting with BPJS Kesehatan President Director Ali Ghufron Mukti, on Wednesday, October 22.

Purbaya explained that the issue of bleaching the arrears was discussed in the context of BPJS Kesehatan's budget preparation for 2026 and the initial report regarding this matter had been received and would be further explored by the technical team.

He said that the budget requirement to cover BPJS arrears was estimated at IDR 20 trillion.

"Earlier, I asked for a budget of Rp. 20 trillion according to the President's promise. It has been budgeted," he told the media crew, Wednesday, October 22.

Although he has not specified how many participants will benefit from the abolition, Purbaya said that he also provided a number of inputs to BPJS Kesehatan regarding the improvement of institutional governance.

He said one of his main concerns was the issue of inefficiency, such as the obligation to use ventilators in hospitals, even though the Covid-19 pandemic had passed and there were cases where patients were still asked to use ventilators just because the equipment was already available.

According to him, this kind of practice contributes to the swelling of claims for BPJS Health services.

"So I'll ask them which tools to buy, which tools don't have to be purchased," he said.