Government health security programme (jamkesmas) is seen as able to raise people’s awareness to have their health checked at community health centres and hospitals. With the card in their hands, people are no longer unwilling to go to hospital. But on the other hand, the programme could create moral hazard for the impoverished people, because they can have free hospital health treatment any time they want.
“Because it is free, when people are rather ill, they would go to hospital despite the condition that does not obligate them so. What happened was moral hazard of people,” said Prof. dr. Siswanto Agung Wilopo, S.U., SC.D., Head of Public Health Study Programme Faculty of Medicine on Wednesday (20/2) on campus ahead of the Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) 2013 and anniversary celebration of the Faculty.
In his opinion, if such phenomenon is not anticipated against, there will be a jump in number of impoverished people going to hospitals. The impact is that hopsital is no longer available to treat all sick people from impoverished family. “It is like the recent case of baby twin-sisters who died due to delayed treatment. The health security programme is not accompanied by sufficient hospital facilities,” said Chairman of the anniversary committee.
In order to anticipate similar cases, Siswanto said that hospitals need to prepare supporting infrastructures, not only in hospitals but also in the primary level or family doctor. Human resource needs to be improved, too. “Actually, all can be prepared, what we need is political commitment,” he said.
Prof. dr. Budi Mulyanto, Sp.PK (K), MM, shared the view. Hospitals should prepare themselves ahead of the BPJS that will commence in 2014. The implementation of BPJS should be supported by hospital being prepared in terms of facilities and human resource. “Hospitals should issue tariffs based on BPJS whilst quality is maintained,” he said.
He admitted that it is not easy to prepare standard facilities and qualified human resource. All needs gradual processes and, obviously, big funding. “The ICU provision, for example, is high cost and high-tech,” he explained.
Budi said that RS Sardjito hospital has made a roadmap to prepare various facilities to welcome the BPJS. It is expected that by 2019 Sardjito general hospital is ready to give health services to people.