Pekanbaru City seeks private partnerships as Riau cuts BPJS budget

The Pekanbaru City Government is seeking new ways to guarantee healthcare access for low-income residents following a significant reduction in budget sharing from the Riau Provincial Government. Previously, the provincial government covered 55 percent of the costs for approximately 150,000 BPJS Kesehatan recipients, with the city covering the remainder. Under a new policy, the provincial contribution has been cut to 20 percent, leaving the Pekanbaru City Government to shoulder 80 percent of the financial burden.

To mitigate the impact on the regional budget (APBD), Mayor Agung Nugroho stated that the city is developing collaboration schemes with the private sector, hospitals, and other business entities. One proposed model involves hospitals covering 50 percent of the costs for specific individuals, with the city covering the other 50 percent. The city government remains committed to finding solutions to ensure citizens do not lose their health insurance coverage due to these funding changes.