JAKARTA – The Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) with the President Director of the Social Security Administering Body for Health (BPJS Kesehatan), Prihati Pujowaskito, at the BPJS Kesehatan headquarters in Central Jakarta, Tuesday (April 7, 2026).

With the signing of this MoU, the Ministry of Villages (Kemendes PDT) and BPJS Kesehatan have agreed to strengthen the synergy of their duties and functions to optimize the implementation of the National Health Insurance (JKN) program in villages and disadvantaged regions.

In his remarks, Minister Yandri Susanto stated that in order to ensure all people in villages have health insurance and are literate regarding the importance of health, it is necessary to promote health literacy in rural areas.

This aligns with President Prabowo Subianto's 6th Asta Cita—building from the villages and the grassroots for economic equality and poverty eradication—which is closely linked to the health of village residents.

"The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, which sources most of its raw materials from villages, requires healthy people. Likewise, those who will drive and be directly involved in the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives also need to be healthy. We welcome this cooperation and thank the President Director and the entire BPJS team; we will safeguard this MoU," Yandri said.

"This ensures all citizens realize that BPJS is a government instrument that guarantees actual service—proof that the state is present. We support the Director’s statement: village residents must not fall into poverty due to illness. With BPJS, God willing, the burden will be lightened when they fall sick," he added.

Furthermore, Yandri explained that the Ministry will exert maximum effort to ensure that the JKN national strategic program is truly felt, enjoyed, and implemented as a fundamental need for village residents.

"With a vast number of 75,266 villages, the majority of Indonesians reside in rural areas. If the villages are healthy, advanced, and prosperous, then a healthy, prosperous, and advanced Indonesia will truly become a reality," Yandri expressed.

Meanwhile, the President Director of BPJS Kesehatan, Prihati Pujowaskito, emphasized that strengthening data interoperability and increasing active membership are key strategies for maintaining the sustainability of the JKN Program. This commitment was reinforced through cooperation between BPJS Kesehatan and four ministries/agencies focused on data integration, expanding participant coverage, and enhancing sustainable compliance.

According to him, this collaboration involves the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, the Ministry of Cooperatives, the Planning and Development Agency of the Ministry of Manpower, and the National Nutrition Agency.

He further stated that the partnership with Kemendes PDT will strengthen the expansion of health protection into village areas and affirmation regions. This cooperation will ensure JKN participants receive national health insurance protection even in remote villages.

"In summary, this entire collaboration forms a grand orchestration to strengthen JKN from upstream to downstream—starting from strengthening the database and expanding membership coverage to increasing participant activity and integrating national health development programs," Pujo asserted.

Accompanying Minister Yandri at the event were the Director General of Village and Rural Development, Nugroho Setijo Nagoro; the Head of BPSDM, Agustomi Masik; and the Head of BPI, Mulyadin Malik.

Foto: Wening/Kemendes PDT 
Teks: Rifqi/Kemendes PDT