Indonesia needs US$27B more for health system transformation: Minister

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia still needs an estimated US$26 billion to US$27 billion to transform its national health system, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said.

The move aligns with the targets to increase the average life expectancy to 76 years and healthy life expectancy to 65.

Speaking at the 4th Indonesia Health Partners Meeting (IHPM) in Jakarta on Tuesday, he explained that the two targets are aimed at ensuring Indonesians live longer and enjoy more healthy years.

“It is not pleasant to live a long life only to suffer from dementia in your final decade, or to have a stroke that prevents you from walking properly in your last ten years,” he said.

Budi explained that transforming the health system requires a total of US$223 billion.

The government and existing systems have secured around US$203 billion, with US$177 billion already allocated for the transformation. This leaves a gap of US$26 billion to US$27 billion that needs to be met within five years.

To cover the shortfall, he affirmed that his ministry is working to build trust with global partners and philanthropists.

He noted that since taking office as Health Minister, collaboration with international partners has improved the quality of healthcare services.

For example, within a single year, around 300,000 anthropometric devices were distributed to integrated health posts (posyandu) across 7,000 inhabited islands.

“We have also sent 10,000 ultrasound machines to 10,000 community health centers (puskesmas),” he said, noting that previously only 22 percent of puskesmas in the country had such equipment.

X-ray machines have also been distributed to puskesmas for tuberculosis screening. The hope, he said, is to send out 2,000 X-ray machines in 2026 and another 4,000 in 2027.

In addition, Budi noted that puskesmas are now being equipped with Near Point of Care Testing (NPOCT) terminals, enabling them to detect pathogens and identify infectious diseases early.

As part of its health transformation push, Indonesia has also launched the Free Health Check (CKG) program to avoid severe cases of non-communicable diseases and is developing genomic testing to better understand demographic health profiles and increase life expectancy.