The Aceh Health Insurance (JKA) was once a source of pride for the Acehnese people. It helped many underprivileged residents access healthcare, even when the Social Security Administration (BPJS Kesehatan) still faced challenges. Underprivileged communities were able to benefit from JKA, improving their health, despite some shortcomings in its implementation.
Underprivileged communities were understandably shocked to receive news of the issuance of Aceh Governor Regulation Number 2 of 2026 concerning JKA, which will take effect on May 1st. This regulation adjusts JKA coverage to better target the poor. Therefore, the Aceh Government is not discontinuing JKA, as has been widely circulated.
The latest development is that Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf supports the continued implementation of JKA. Unfortunately, there has been no explicit explanation as to whether this means that Governor Regulation Number 2/2026 will be invalidated on May 1st. The Aceh Government is currently updating data to improve the accuracy and quality of services to ensure that beneficiaries are properly targeted.
"Actually, the JKA program isn't being cut, because we're evaluating it first. Now, we're separating the responsibilities of the JKA program and the JKN program. The provincial responsibility and the central government responsibility," said Mualem, accompanied by Deputy Governor Fadhlullah, as quoted on the Aceh Government website.
If that were the reason, there shouldn't be a clause to evaluate the JKA program through a gubernatorial regulation. Community data should have existed before the draft gubernatorial regulation. A policy should be based on facts and valid data. It shouldn't be a regulation that comes first, followed by controversy later.
The background to the JKA policy change has not been clearly revealed to the public. The Aceh Government's normative reason is that fiscal conditions are forcing the government to rationalize the budget. Mualem stated that once the 2.5 percent of Aceh's special autonomy funds are returned, the implementation of the JKA program will return to normal.
However, there are allegations that the regulation was created due to the interest of reallocating funds to serve the interests of members of the Aceh House of Representatives (DPRD). This coercion holds the executive hostage, sacrificing the interests of the Acehnese people.
Mualem's statement regarding the JKA is a promise held by the Aceh government by the public. Failure to fulfill this promise would jeopardize the Acehnese people's trust in the Mualem-Dek Fadh administration.
The Aceh government should have conducted adequate public awareness campaigns before issuing the JKA regulation. Public and academic involvement was very low, leading to controversy after it surfaced.
Now, the reinstatement of the JKA as it was—without creating a class among the public—is a test of the Aceh government's policies.[]
