Jakarta, Nov. 13 -- The Health Ministry plans to overhaul the hospital referral system by aligning referrals with each facility's capacity and competence, aiming to improve efficiency and reduce costs for the National Health Insurance Agency (BPJS Kesehatan).

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said during a meeting with the House of Representatives on Thursday that the current tiered referral system is often inefficient, expensive, and can delay critical treatment for patients who need specialized care.

He highlighted cases such as cardiac arrests, where patients are still required to move step-by-step through multiple facilities despite only top-tier hospitals being capable of handling such emergencies.

"Clearly the only one who can ...