Is It True That Prospective Recipients Of Free COVID-19 Vaccine Must Have An Active BPJS?

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JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has confirmed that the COVID-19 vaccine will be provided free of charge. Recently, the community has been fussed over the condition that vaccine recipients must have an active BPJS Health membership.

This news was also responded to by the Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly Hidayat Nur Wahid via his Twitter account @hnurwahid who responded to the news that the recipient of the COVID-19 vaccine must be a BPJS Kesehatan participant. He questioned about the correctness of this vaccination information.

"Recently, President Jokowi was appreciated for stating, 'The COVID-19 vaccine is free for the public, free of charge at all.' However, the spokesman for the vaccination program had a different explanation, 'the COVID-19 vaccine is free but must be a BPJS Kesehatan participant'. correct?" wrote Hidayat, quoted on Friday, December 18.

Recently, President @jokowi was appreciated for stating that "the covid-19 vaccine is free for the public, there is no charge at all". But the Spokesperson for the Vaccination Program has different explanations: "Free Covid-19 Vaccine, but Must Be a BPJS Health Participant". Which one is correct? https://t.co/PHB8zhpil8

- Hidayat Nur Wahid (@hnurwahid) December 17, 2020

Spokesperson for the COVID-19 vaccination from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Siti Nadia Tarmizi emphasized that the free COVID-19 vaccine is given to all people according to the criteria for vaccine recipients. The criteria for vaccine recipients are aged 18-59 years, do not have comorbid diseases, are not pregnant, and have never been infected with COVID-19.

"Vaccines are free for all people according to the criteria for vaccine recipients. So it has nothing to do with BPJS," said Nadia when contacted by VOI, Friday, December 18.

Regarding the news that the public who receive free vaccines must have an active BPJS to access Primary Care (P-care) services belonging to the BPJS, according to him, it is intended to collect data or collect data from puskesmas or first-level health facilities that are integrated into a single data information system.

"So it has nothing to do with P-Care. P-Care is only a record of patient treatment," he said.

Meanwhile, for people who are not registered at the puskesmas or first level health facilities, the government will collaborate with the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) to collect data.

The government, he continued, also ensures that every citizen gets vaccines from KTP holders or those who have a Population Identification Number (NIK).

"(Those who are not registered at the Puskesmas, red) have BPS. Unless they don't have a NIK," he said.

Vaccine distribution via KTP data has been criticized

A public policy observer from Trisakti University, Trubus Rahardiansyah, assessed that the policy of using the Identity Card (KTP) could actually be wrong target. According to him, making policies can not only be based on name and address, but must have complete data.

"Not inaccurate, but in fact it can be targeted later. Because this is the gift with KTP, NIK by name, by address. Policies cannot be like that," said Trubus.

"For this vaccine, we have the basis for Presidential Decree No. 11 of 2020 concerning health emergencies and Presidential Decree 12 of 2020 concerning national disaster COVID. So from there we can see, the COVID-19 pandemic is a disaster, an emergency, so if the vaccine is based on NIK so it is irrelevant because later the public will be confused and the impression will be bureaucratic, "he continued.

He suggested that this vaccine should be recorded using a bottom-up system. This means that vaccine administrators should collaborate with parties around the community such as RT / RW and even community organizations to verify data so that it reaches more to all parties including those who do not have a KTP.

"So the Health Office or the COVID-19 Task Force must cooperate, coordinate with RT and RW. They are invited to work, record, record how many residents fit the vaccine criteria. So RT / RW are given authority and data collection is not top down but bottom up," he said. .

"Involve religious leaders, community leaders. Ormas can also be involved. For what, to verify the data so that people who are given are in a position of need," he concluded.