Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s finance minister has urged the state health insurer BPJS Kesehatan to tighten and regularly update data on beneficiaries of subsidized national health insurance, after an abrupt surge in removals raised concerns about public disruption and access to care.Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa made the request during a joint meeting with leaders of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Monday, pointing to an unusual pattern in updates to the National Health Insurance fee assistance program, known as PBI JKN, earlier this year.Sadewa said February 2026 saw an unexpectedly sharp change in beneficiary data compared with typical monthly adjustments. Under normal conditions, about one million beneficiaries are deactivated each month as records are updated.In February, however, the number of deactivated beneficiaries jumped to around 11 million people, nearly 10 percent of the total 98 million PBI JKN participants nationwide, he said.“This is what caused the shock. Why did it suddenly become so high in February this year?” Sadewa said, adding that the government assumes many of those affected were unaware they had been removed from the list.In principle, Sadewa said, updates to PBI JKN data are intended to improve the quality and governance of the national health insurance program, ensuring assistance is better targeted at poor and vulnerable communities.However, he stressed that data corrections should not trigger public anxiety or undermine trust in the health system, especially for people who rely on subsidized coverage for essential treatment.Sadewa proposed that future deactivations be carried out gradually, such as through a grace period of two to three months, combined with clear public communication and outreach.This approach would give affected individuals time to seek alternative arrangements or clarify their eligibility before coverage ends, reducing the risk of sudden service disruptions.“Do not let people who are already ill suddenly discover, when they seek treatment or dialysis, that they are no longer eligible,” he said, urging BPJS Kesehatan to ensure data accuracy without compromising access to care.