REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MAMUJU -- Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi and West Sulawesi Governor Anwar Adnan Saleh have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bring a national health insurance (JKN) program to the province.

The minister and governor signed the MoU in the West Sulawesi provincial capital of Mamuju on Friday in the presence of all six district heads in the province.

Nafsiah said the JKN program, which will be created by forming Social Security Providers (BPJS), seeks to improve health services to the public.

"The JKN program and BPJS plan will be launched across Indonesia on January 1, 2014 to provide health insurance and improve health services to the public," she said.

With this program, she added, the entire Indonesian nation will no longer have difficulties receiving health services.

She called for support from regional governments across the country to ensure the success of the health insurance.

Further, West Sulawesi Governor Anwar Adnan Saleh praised the central government for introducing the program and said he hoped it would be successfully adopted in the province.

The government plans to begin the JKN program in stages starting in 2014, and will work to see that all Indonesian citizens have health insurance within the next five years, based upon the 2004 Law on National Social Security System (SJSN).

While in West Sulawesi, the minister also opened a meeting of health personnel from the province and held an interactive dialog with the public about the JKN and the handling of HIV/AIDS cases in West Sulawesi.

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