Sihar Sitorus Highlights the Importance of a Preventive Focus in the JKN Program
Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sihar Sitorus, has offered a critical perspective regarding the implementation of the National Health Insurance (JKN) program in Indonesia. According to him, the current national health system is still too focused on treatment efforts for people who have already fallen ill, resulting in a very heavy financial burden borne by the state.
Sihar emphasized that the primary focus of JKN should begin to shift toward promotive and preventive measures. This means the government needs to prioritize health education and disease prevention from an early age so that the public remains healthy and does not need to be hospitalized.
He explained that if the public is more concerned with healthy lifestyles, the number of visits to health facilities will decrease. This can directly maintain the sustainability of JKN funds so that they remain stable and can be used more effectively in the long term.
In addition, Sihar also highlighted the importance of improving the quality of health services in remote areas. He hopes the government can improve facilities and the availability of medical personnel so that people in all corners of Indonesia have equal access to healthcare.
In closing, Sihar invited all stakeholders to re-evaluate the national health strategy. By strengthening prevention, it is hoped that Indonesia's health system will become more independent, efficient, and capable of providing broader benefits to all the people.