Dozens of kidney failure patients in Indonesia have lost access to dialysis after their PBI JKN membership was suddenly deactivated. The Indonesian Medical Association warns of high death risks without the therapy, while the Social Minister insists hospitals must treat patients regardless. A DPR member urges prioritizing health rights over administrative procedures.
The data update policy for Penerima Bantuan Iuran Jaminan Kesehatan (PBI JKN) started last year has led to the deactivation of membership status for several chronic patients, including dozens with kidney failure. According to the Indonesian Dialysis Patient Community, at least 30 patients lost access to hemodialysis due to this change, effective from February 1, 2026, under Ministerial Decree No. 3/HUK/2026.
Head of the Indonesian Medical Association's (IDI) Advisory Board, dr. Daeng M. Faqih, stressed that dialysis is a crucial procedure to remove toxins from the bodies of kidney failure patients, whose kidney function is impaired. "If kidney failure is not dialyzed, delayed continuously, toxins accumulate in the body and that causes high risk of death," he said on February 5, 2026. He urged humanitarian-based policies for emergencies, such as funding through BPJS Health or the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf, alias Gus Ipul, asserted that hospitals must not refuse PBI JKN patients who have been deactivated, as reactivation can be done quickly if they meet Desil 1-4 criteria in the National Socio-Economic Single Data (DTSEN). "I have coordinated with the Health Minister and BPJS Director, and there is a solution. The principle is, hospitals must not refuse patients because this cannot be delayed, especially emergencies," he stated on the same day. The Ministry of Social Affairs has reactivated 25,000 eligible participants and commits to coordinating with local governments to speed up the process.
Member of DPR's Commission IX Edy Wuryanto expressed concerns over the lack of communication, where patients only learn of deactivation when needing services. "This is not just an administrative issue. It concerns the lives and health of patients," he said. He emphasized the continuity of care principle in the National Health Insurance, per Presidential Instruction No. 4 of 2025, while ensuring the poor are not harmed by the data update.
