Jakarta. Ghufron Mukti, the president director of BPJS Kesehatan, recently released two books showcasing the journey of the Indonesian national health insurance scheme JKN. 

The first book -- titled “Roso Telo Dadi Duren, Biyen Gelo Saiki Keren: Catatan 10 Tahun Perjalanan BPJS Kesehatan”-- laid out the history of BPJS Kesehatan since its inception in 2014, including the management of the JKN system. The second book –“Prinsip Dasar Sistem Jaminan Sosial dan Asuransi Kesehatan”-- talks of the fundamentals of social health insurance and the standard inpatient class (Kris), among others. 

"It is not an easy thing to register more than 97 percent of Indonesia's population as JKN participants within 10 years. At the same time, BPJS Health is also required to increase the satisfaction of JKN participants by providing easy, fast and equal services. With hard work and collaboration between all parties, BPJS Health can withstand various challenges in realizing universal health coverage in Indonesia,” Ghufron was quoted as saying in a recent press statement. 

In 2014, JKN had 114 million participants. The numbers have jumped to 271.2 million participants as of May 10, 2024. The JKN program’s utilization has also jumped from 92.3 million use a year (2014) to 606.6 million in 2023.

According to Ghufron, BPJS Kesehatan also continues to improve its services from time to time. In terms of health service accessibility, the number of health facilities partnering with BPJS Health continues to grow. BPJS Health has also developed many digital innovations that make it easier for participants, health facilities, government and other stakeholders to access their respective needs. Ghufron also said that the digitalization of BPJS Health services contributed to changing Indonesia's health system.

"With the administration services via Whatsapp (Pandawa), the JKN Mobile Application, and BPJS Health Care Center 165, people can take care of administration, request information, or submit complaints about the JKN Program simply via cellphone," Ghufron said. 

"During the pandemic, the P-Care Application, which was used by the first-level health facilities (FKTP), BPJS Kesehatan partners across Indonesia, helped boost the Covid-19 vaccine rollout. In the past, JKN participants needed photocopied files when seeking treatment, now they only need to present their ID card, as long as the JKN participant's membership status is active and has followed the procedures," Ghufron said. 

According to Ghufron, BPJS Kesehatan has also launched i-Care JKN which can facilitate JKN participants and doctors to access the visit history of JKN participants in the last 12 months. That way, these participants can be served more quickly and precisely by doctors.

BPJS Kesehatan also launched new features on the JKN mobile application called BUGAR. This includes the ability to monitor JKN participants' vital health data, body measurements, step activity, energy expended, and the daily distance traveled by JKN participants by walking. It can also measure the sleep quality and calories of JKN participants

Ghufron has also released some songs to tell people -- particularly the younger generation -- about BPJS Kesehatan. He uploaded these songs on BPJS Kesehatan's social media. 

"There is a song about the importance of registering as a JKN participant, another is about BPJS Kesehatan services which are now very easy, there is a song about encouraging people to not easily believe hoaxes, and so on. These songs are a means of socializing the community because they are universal, easily accepted and digested by all groups without age restrictions," Ghufron said, who has created a total of seven songs throughout his career at BPJS Kesehatan.