Government Patches Up BPJS Kesehatan's Rp 6.8 Trillion Loss

The Indonesian government injected Rp 6.82 trillion (approximately USD 460 million, exchange rate may vary) into BPJS Kesehatan in the form of State Capital Participation (PMN) to address the revenue mismatch. As reported by the Secretariat Cabinet website, sektkab.go.id, this state capital injection is regulated in Government Regulation (PP) Number 71/2016 concerning the Addition of Capital to the BPJS Kesehatan Capital, signed by President Joko Widodo at the end of 2016.

In 2015, BPJS Kesehatan experienced a loss of approximately Rp 4 trillion, with premium income reaching only Rp 54 trillion while claims payable amounted to Rp 58 trillion. Every year, the government must allocate funds to cover the contributions of 105 million recipients of subsidized healthcare contributions (PBI) and the BPJS Kesehatan revenue deficit.

This national health insurance program, modeled after similar programs in other countries, is only three years old and still faces numerous challenges requiring improvement, both in healthcare services and administration.