VP: Regional Governments Play Important Role in Implementing JKN Programme

20 June 2014

Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Prof. Dr. Boediono in a speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the 16^th national degree for effective technology (GTT) in Samarinda, East Kalimantan (19/06/14) confirmed that local government support was critical in the implementation of the national health insurance programme (JKN).

The vice president said that implementing JKN was a huge job, and one with many tasks still outstanding, most importantly that of providing health services that meet the public’s standards. All primary healthcare facilities (FKTP), such as puskesmas and puskesmas pembantu are managed by local governments. Therefore, improving the services available at the puskesmas level is highly dependent on the commitment of local governments.

During the event, the vice president witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Social Assistance Agency for Health (BPJS Kesehatan) on optimising the role of local governments in JKN implementation.

The previous day, the secretariat for the National Team for the Acceleration of Poverty Reduction (TNP2K) together with BPJS Kesehatan participated in a meeting of bupati and mayors of Indonesia on "strengthening the role of local governments in implementing the 2014 national health insurance scheme." The event was organised by the directorate general of communities and villages (PMD) at the ministry of home affairs, and was held in the Hall of Lamin Etam at the governor of east Kalimantan’s office in Samarinda on Tuesday afternoon (18/06/14).

The event was held as part of efforts to provide insight into the role of local governments when implementing JKN, mainly at the regional level. The event was also intended to address any doubts of local governments when implementing JKN, which is being implemented by various regional BPJS.

To overcome these doubts, the vice president and the ministry of home affairs invited all governors, bupati and mayors across Indonesia to attend the national workshop on strengthening the socialisation and commitment of local governments in carrying out JKN.

As quoted in beritamuba.com, Minister of Home Affairs Gamawan Fauzi said that when managing and disbursing JKN capitalisation funds to health facilities, all regions must be able to understand the technical instructions set so that no doubts remains that could impede the implementation of BPJS Kesehatan.

“Many letters from the regions sent to the secretariat of the vice president have expressed doubts regarding the implementation of JKN. As such, a working meeting was held today on the instructions of the vice president,” Fauzi said.

“This workshop will see relevant parties provide technical clarity. My hope is these technical explanations will be understood by local governments so that the JKN programme can be executed immediately", he added.

During the event, the minister for home affairs said that local governments should immediately accelerate the implementation of the management and use of JKN capitation funds, in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 32 of 2014, Ministerial Regulation No. 19 of 2014 and Minister of Home Affairs Circular No. 900/2280/SJ dated 5 May 2014.

"Pay heed to the principles of transparency and accountability, as well as orderly administration for accelerating the management and use of JKN capitation funds in order to avoid future legal problems later, so that the system will running optimally," he said. The minister for home affairs reminded the regional heads to immediately set up JKN capitation funds and capitation account funds at all FKTP as part of the regional general cash accounts, especially in areas that have until now not been created.

"Furthermore, monitoring and evaluation can be conducted in developing the implementation of JKN capitation fund management and use, and governors can be encouraged to conduct monitoring, which will be implemented to evaluate the programme," he said.

In addition to the minister for home affairs, also attending the event was the head of the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPK), Mardiasmo, the head of the National Social Assistance Council (DJSN), Chazali Situmorang, the secretary general of the Ministry of Health, Supriyantoro, the deputy head of BPK, Binsar H. Simanjuntak, and the director general of regional finance, Yuswandi Temenggung.

Source: TNP2K/Wapresri.com/Beritamuba.com