With a ballooning deficit over five years of operations putting pressure on the state budget, the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan), which is in charge of Indonesia’s universal healthcare insurance system, is pleading for an increase in premiums. BPJS Kesehatan's director of finance and investment, Kemal Imam Santoso, acknowledged that the increase in premiums would only address one of the many problems that cause a growing deficit in the institution’s finances. However, he said it is necessary to stem the financial losses suffered by the state insurer. “The need is quite urgent,” Kemal told the press after a meeting with House of Representatives’ Commission XI which oversees state budget and overall financial affairs, which was also attended by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. Indonesia’s universal healthcare

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