LPSK Asks For One Regulation Made By President Jokowi To Be Canceled

Edwin Pathology/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) urges the Government to review Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 82 of 2018 concerning Health Insurance because LPSK considers Article 52 paragraph (1) letter r to be detrimental to the community. "Article 52 paragraph (1) letter r which regulates benefits that are not guaranteed have ignored emergency situations that threaten the safety of victims of criminal acts because of the consequences of refusing guarantees from BPJS Kesehatan," said LPSK Deputy Chair Edwin Partogi Pasaribu in a statement received in Jakarta, Wednesday, January 25. Edwin explained the article. states that health services that are not guaranteed by BPJS are health services due to criminal acts of persecution, sexual violence, victims of terrorism, and criminal acts of trafficking in persons.

"This article is contrary to the Law on the Protection of Witnesses and Victims because LPSK provides protection to victims of criminal acts with conditions determined by law, including certain criminal acts that have been regulated as a priority for LPSK protection," said Edwin. LPSK objected to Article 52 paragraph (1) letter r which regulates benefits that are not guaranteed by BPJS because from the beginning LPSK was never involved in its preparation. In addition, LPSK is not a guarantor institution as well as BPJS. In fact, BPJS in carrying out its duties collects premiums (contributions) from the public. "LPSK provides protection and other rights for witnesses and/or victims of criminal acts, purely using APBN funds. With limited budget allocated to LPSK every year, it will not be enough. to cover the needs of victims of criminal acts that are not guaranteed by BPJS," said Edwin. However, continued Edwin, in the last few years after this Presidential Regulation was issued, even though it is not a health insurance institution like BPJS, LPSK does not turn a blind eye to the medical needs of victims of crime. In the last 4 years since the Presidential Decree was issued, LPSK received more than 400 applications from victims whose health services were not guaranteed by BPJS, consisting of 7 applications in 2018, 183 applications (2019), and 60 applications in 2020. Nonetheless, he said, not all of these applications can be accepted by LPSK. Those who receive medical assistance are victims of criminal acts of persecution n, collective violence, violence against children, severe abuse, violent theft, and victims of stray bullets.

"In 2021, LPSK received 78 requests for medical assistance from those who were not guaranteed by BPJS. However, only 41 were accepted," said Edwin. The 78 medical applications in 2021 came from several provinces, namely West Java (26 applications) , North Sumatra (16 applications), Banten (10 applications), South Sulawesi (9 applications), DKI Jakarta (6 applications), East Java (4 applications), Central Kalimantan (3 applications), and DIY, Central Java, Papua and South Sumatra with one application each. Edwin said that LPSK often pays medical fees since the victim was admitted to the hospital. Even though the application is submitted when the victim is in treatment or has returned home, still has debts with the hospital, in practice LPSK often decides to pay medical expenses from the first day the victim receives medical treatment from the hospital.