Beritasatu.com reports that national business leaders are calling on the Indonesian government to prioritize the settlement of social insurance claims from private hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients. Business circles ominously warn that its claims amounting to “hundreds of billions” that are paid late or not paid at all threaten continued health care for sick patients and, in some circumstances, could cause hospitals to go bankrupt.
Suryani Sidik Motik, the chairperson of the Indigenous Entrepreneurs Business Association (HIPPI) said: “The problem in the health sector must be solved. There needs to be a solution because the economy’s recovery is very dependent on how COVID-19 is handled.”
Suryani underlined that chief among the problems facing the national health sector and how it can address the COVID-19 pandemic is how claims by private hospitals for the treatment of patients will be settled.
During the early stages of the current pandemic, Indonesia’s Minister of Health issued decrees (Keputusan Menteri Kesehatan Nomor 413 Tahun 2020 and Keputusan Menkes Nomor HK.01.07/Menkes/446/2020) stipulating that the cost of all medical treatment for COVID-19 in both private and government-owned hospitals would be paid by the government.
Suryani said billings from some private hospitals are in arrears for both 2021 and 2020. The HIPPI chairperson said the cash flows of hospitals are being impacted by pharmaceutical and other suppliers now withholding the delivery of critical medical supplies.
