CRPD
Rights Tracker

Disability Law No. 8/2016 brought about a paradigm shift in how the state views disability in Indonesia, moving from a charity-based approach to a rights-based approach. The Law mandates every provincial and regional government to mainstream disability in planning and budgeting within their respective programs. Similarly, the inclusion of assistive devices and assistive technology is implicitly mandated in government policies at the national, provincial, or regional levels. However, the implementation of the law (Disability Law 8/2016) and regional regulations (Bali Regional Regulation 9/2015) still faces several dynamics related to national and regional situations. Some points to note are: Indonesia's National Health Insurance (BPJS Kesehatan / BPJS) only provides 7 assistive devices out of the many significant individual assistive device needs for Persons with Disabilities, and wheelchairs are not included in this coverage.

The Government actually has considerable concern and a large budget allocation for assistive devices, but the understanding of how to use them appropriately still needs to be improved, and the fulfillment of the rights of persons with disabilities is a cross-sectoral responsibility. The provision of assistive devices that do not match the users' needs leads to abandoned assistive devices and, in addition to creating more risks for the lives of Persons with Disabilities, this also results in a waste of government budget. Providing assistive devices on a charity basis does not guarantee the sustainability of the provision of assistive devices for Persons with Disabilities, because this fundamental need is a lifelong necessity for Persons with Disabilities.

The Government, through various financing schemes and programs, has taken various steps in fulfilling the health rights and assistive devices for Persons with Disabilities. The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) (2019) published a Roadmap for Inclusive Health Services with the goal of "Establishing an accessible, comprehensive, affordable, quality, dignified, and empowering health system and services for all Persons with Disabilities." The main target is: "By 2030, all Persons with Disabilities will have an optimal state of health so as to be able to support their productivity and active participation in society and development." The fulfillment of assistive devices as part of the rights of Persons with Disabilities with a human rights-based approach is a program across Ministries/Agencies, Regional Governments, and support from other stakeholders.

Efforts and strategies for fulfilling adaptive assistive devices should indeed continue to be encouraged at both the regional and national levels. One of the things that can be done is to build a collective commitment by bringing in regional good practices, looking at the achievements, challenges, and opportunities available. This needs to be done so that the policies created genuinely favor the fulfillment of adaptive assistive devices. Furthermore, the provision of assistive devices is a shared, cross-sectoral responsibility to ensure the suitability, affordability, and quality of the assistive devices are maintained. With the increasing independence and empowerment of persons with disabilities, the social burden borne by the government is reduced.

From all the dynamics of the efforts to fulfill the rights of persons with disabilities to assistive devices, we can also look at the good practice of the DI Yogyakarta Province which has a Special Regulation on the Protection and Fulfillment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to access health services and assistive devices (covering around 50 assistive devices) and rehabilitation through the Special Health Insurance Program (JAMKESUS DISABILITAS) which started in 2013. This Disability Jamkesus is funded through the DI Yogyakarta Provincial Budget (APBD) and its implementation is supported by various stakeholders (Social & Health Agencies, Community Health Centers, Hospitals / Specialists, local disabled persons' organizations/communities, and others). Its innovative model is the Integrated Jamkesus Service, in addition to regular services that continue to run. This innovative model has proven a significant increase in budget utilization for adaptive assistive devices, meaning the fulfillment of the right to access adaptive assistive devices for persons with disabilities and beneficial impacts on their lives.

Besides the good practice of Disability Jamkesus in DI Yogyakarta Province, the program "Improving Systems and Policies to Strengthen Access to Assistive Technology for Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly in Indonesia" is also running in Purworejo Regency and Central Java Province. This program encourages a better system for the provision of assistive devices. A Working Group for Assistive Device Provision (POKJA Alat Bantu) consisting of multi-stakeholders (Regency Government, DPOs, Elderly Groups, and CSR) has also been formed in Purworejo Regency. The efforts already made by the Assistive Device POKJA in Purworejo are to implement an Integrated Assistive Device Service for persons with disabilities and the elderly using a service mechanism flow based on evidence (data and medical diagnosis).

Based on the dynamics and good practices mentioned above, we know and realize that assistive devices and their technology, when provided appropriately according to need, will open up opportunities and empower users to be more independent, actively involved in society, and live productively, both socially and economically. The more independent and productive persons with disabilities are, the less social burden the government bears.

Because it is the government's responsibility to fulfill the rights of persons with disabilities to adaptive assistive devices, we need to encourage and work with the government to realize this, and this effort requires the involvement and cooperation between the government, persons with disabilities, disabled persons' organizations, and other stakeholders. This program aims to encourage the Bali Provincial Government to immediately realize the inclusion of adaptive assistive device provision into government planning and budgeting (RKA: Activity and Budget Plan) as their commitment to fulfilling the rights of persons with disabilities in accordance with Disability Law 8/2016 and Bali Disability Regional Regulation 9/2015.

Since 2021, PUSPADI Bali, in collaboration with UCP Wheels for Humanity and the Annika Linden Centre, has formed a TASK FORCE consisting of stakeholder representatives, who play a role and are responsible for overseeing and ensuring the successful process of promoting and advocating for the sustainability of assistive device and assistive technology provision for Persons with Disabilities in Bali Province.

1. (1) The Government actually has a considerable budget allocation for assistive devices, but the understanding of how to use them appropriately still needs to be improved, given the importance of adaptive assistive devices for the independence and productivity of persons with disabilities.

2. The provision of assistive devices that do not match the users' needs leads to abandoned assistive devices and creates more risks for the lives of persons with disabilities.

3. Providing assistive devices on a charity basis does not guarantee the sustainability of the provision of assistive devices for persons with disabilities, because this fundamental need is a lifelong necessity for persons with disabilities.