COVID-19 Treatment No Longer Free If It Becomes Endemic

Bogor – The Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reminded the public that COVID-19 patients treatment will no longer be free or covered by the government if there is a change in status from pandemic to endemic.

"In the next one to two weeks, the government will set an endemic status for COVID-19," President Widodo said at a one-decade anniversary event of Barisan Relawan President Jokowi (Bara JP) in Bogor City, West Java, Sunday. 

"If it is endemic, then COVID-19 treatment will no longer be covered by the government." 

On the same occasion, the President also revealed that handling COVID-19 was the toughest job he faced during his administration.

Previously, he stated that he had decided that Indonesia would enter COVID-19 endemic status in consideration of the sloping number of daily cases and active cases of COVID-19 and the wide coverage of COVID-19 vaccination.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy said the government agrees with the decision of the World Health Organization (WHO) which has revoked the COVID-19 emergency status on May 5, 2023.

Therefore, the Minister said the Government will immediately complete the transition period from the pandemic to the COVID-19 endemic in Indonesia.

With the end of the transition period from pandemic to endemic, the Minister said the COVID-19 Handling Task Force will be disbanded. COVID-19 vaccines will also be provided by the Government under the normal service scheme and included in ordinary infectious diseases.

The Minister also said that the COVID-19 vaccination for the public will be covered by the Government through the Health Social Security Organizing Agency (BPJS), especially for people who cannot afford it and fall into the Contribution Assistance Recipient (PBI) category.