Indonesia Increases Spending on Handling Health Sector by 300 Percent

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Indonesian government spending on handling health aspects during the Covid-19 pandemic has increased by 300 percent, or 176.40 trillion rupiahs ($12.22 billion) in 2021 from the previous year, a senior minister said on Tuesday.

Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto, who is also the chairman of Indonesia’s Covid-19 committee, said that the fund will be allocated for the 3T procedures (testing, tracing, treatment) and a mass inoculation program.

“This year’s allocation for the health sector has increased by 300 percent compare to the previous year,” said Airlangga during a virtual talk show organized by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) on March 9.

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“This allocation will also cover the 3T procedures and vaccination program,” he said.
In total, he added, this year’s Covid-19 Mitigation and National Economic Recovery (KPC-PEN) budget reach nearly 700 trillion rupiahs ($48.53 billion).

“We increase this year’s budget to almost 700 trillion rupiahs as the budget realization last year stood at 579 trillion rupiahs [$40.16 billion],” he said.

“The government will continue to provide its assistance in five areas comprising social protection, health, small-medium enterprises, and priority programs as well as incentives for the business sector,” he said.

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The spending allocated for the social protection program in 2021 reaches 157.41 trillion rupiahs ($10.92 billion) and for SMEs 184.83 trillion rupiahs ($12.82 billion).

Meanwhile, the allocation for priority programs and business incentives reaches 122.42 trillion rupiahs ($8.49 billion) and 58.47 trillion rupiahs ($4.05 billion), respectively. In total, this year’s KPC PEN budget amounted to 699.43 trillion rupiahs.

(Writer: Dian Erika Nugraheny | Editor: Dani Prabowo)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/03/09/11124831/airlangga-anggaran-kesehatan-kpc-pen-2021-naik-300-persen.