The 2021 Health Budget Decreased to Rp 169.7 Trillion

The health sector has been a key focus for the Indonesian government amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in March 2020. Although the number of cases surged last year, it has decreased this year.

The government increased the health budget in the 2021 State Budget (APBN) by 87% to Rp 212.5 trillion in 2020 (outlook) compared to the previous year. This figure is the highest compared to the realization of the health budget in previous years. The health budget in the 2021 APBN is set at Rp 169.7 trillion, a decrease of 20.1% compared to the 2020 outlook.

Priority targets for the health budget in the 2021 APBN include: procuring COVID-19 vaccines for 160 million people (Rp 18 trillion), implementing the vaccination program for 160 million people (Rp 3.7 trillion), providing health insurance contributions for 96.8 million PBI JKN participants (Rp 48.8 trillion), and providing operational assistance for 10,143 Community Health Centers (Puskesmas) (Rp 10.7 trillion).

In his state address during the joint annual session with the MPR (RI) and the joint session of the DPR RI and DPD RI, President Joko Widodo of the Republic of Indonesia stated that during the year and a half of the pandemic, there has been significant strengthening in our health behavior and infrastructure.

"Public awareness, participation, and mutual cooperation have strengthened tremendously," he said.