Handling COVID-19 Continues To Follow Procedures Even Though The Pandemic Has Been Revoked By President Jokowi, Focuses On Strengthening The Health System

Main Expert Staff of the Presidential Staff Office dr. Brian Sri Prahastuti. (docKSP)

JAKARTA - President Jokowi has revoked the status of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Ministry of Health will continue to monitor and report case developments through the regional Health Office because COVID-19 still has the potential to become an Extraordinary Event (KLB).

In his statement, the Main Expert of the Presidential Staff Office, dr. Brian Sri Prahastuti, explained that the Ministry of Health will take action according to procedures, including conducting epidemiological investigations, if there is a significant increase in cases. COVID-19 will be considered an infectious disease that must be handled in the First Level Health Facility (FKTP) or Hospital. If hospitalized, JKN participants will be referred according to BPJS regulations.

Brian emphasized the importance of the public to continue paying BPJS premiums or other forms of health insurance to remain under the protection of health insurance. Even though Indonesia is entering an endemic phase, COVID-19 still has the potential to be contagious and cause illness and death for those who have risks. Therefore, people are encouraged to maintain their immunity through vaccination, consumption of nutritious food, and regular exercise.

Brian also highlighted the importance of maintaining health protocols, such as washing hands, because they have benefits in preventing various diseases. In addition, the government is currently focusing on strengthening the national health system to deal with the threat of a pandemic in the future. This strengthening includes six components of the WHO's health sub-system, namely health efforts, health financing, health human resources, medicines and health supplies, health information, and health governance.

In addition, the Ministry of Health is also carrying out a health transformation by strengthening the national health system through the construction of the Biomedical and Genome Science Initiative (BGSi) at the Eijkman Building, RSCM Jakarta.