JAKARTA, March 7, 2017: To expand family planning (FP) coverage,  the social security scheme under the universal health coverage programme can serve as a valuable entry point for BKKBN to promote access to FP services, while at the same time, BKKBN can continuously provide assistance for quality FP services to both private and public health services and secure adequate contraceptive commodities.

BPJS Kesehatan, as the entity that manages the health branch of social security system, is mandated to provide coverage for curative, promotive and preventive health services, including FP services.

“BKKBN needs to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and BPJS Kesehatan to promote FP use and actively reach out to communities who are not yet registered and covered by BPJS as well as the poor and other underserved population throughout Indonesia,” Siswanto Agus Wilopo from Center for Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine at Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University said to members of the FP2020 Country Committee at its 16th meeting at BKKBN office.

In spite of efforts and investment, the impact of the FP program in the last few years is not as expected. Wendy Hartanto, BKKBN’s Deputy for Population Management said that revitalizing national FP programme would require stronger partnership of all stakeholders, including private sector, civil society organizations (CSOs) and parliaments for funding supports.

UNFPA Representative Dr. Annette Sachs Robertson stressed the need to actively engage CSOs in the FP2020 Country Committee for enhanced performance to attain the FP2020 goals. With UNFPA supports, FP2020 Indonesia website is established to facilitate coordination and sharing of expertise, experience and information among members.  “We need to nurture good coordination and integration among all members of the FP2020 so we can work closely together to promote FP from our respective mandates,” she said.

To guide efforts toward rights-based FP (RFP) in 2017, the government is currently formulating the costed implementation plan (CIP), a 4-year rights-based FP roadmap detailing clear directions, priority interventions from FP demand and supply side, to engage stakeholders and mobilize funding supports for achievement of FP goals. “This CIP document will guide national FP efforts at the central and subnational level.,” said Woro Srihastuti Sulistyaningrum, Director for Family, Women, Child, Youth and Sport with the Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS).

Zohra Balsara, Health Office Deputy Director, USAID said FP investment is a smart development investment as it contributes meaningfully to the attainment of health sector outcomes.