KIS Has A Wider Range Than JKN:Health Minister

Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- The Indonesia Health Card (KIS) program has wider coverage than the National Health Insurance (JKN) scheme, Health Minister Nila Farid Moeloek stated.

"Its scope is extended to those outside the Beneficiary Contribution (PBI) scheme in particular," Moeloek said here on Wednesday.

She noted that the KIS will be gradually expanded to cover poor people and those who face social welfare issues.

Earlier, the JKN was limited to poor families and the card did not include the homeless.

The health minister also acknowledged that obstacles related to data collection were hindering the implementation of the KIS initiative.

"It is far more difficult to collect data for the KIS than the JKN, which is a family card. The KIS includes abandoned children, as well as those in asylums and living under bridges, under its ambit," she emphasized.

She further argued that holders of the KIS will get better benefits with regard to prevention, promotion and early protection.

The KIS scheme was one of the programs launched by the government of President Joko Widodo since its inauguration. Among the programs implemented by the president were the "magic cards," the Indonesia Health Card (KIS), the Welfare Family Card (KKS) and the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP).

The Secretary of the National Team for the Acceleration of Poverty Reduction (TNP2K), Bambang Widianto, pointed out that these schemes were part of efforts to facilitate the productive distribution of government aid.

"The programs bring in a new era in improving the welfare of poor people through deposit accounts, sustainable education of children, and the provision of health insurance," he noted. (WDY)