The third stimulus will still be the same as I have conveyed. It will target the health sector, and we will assess all needs so we can direct funds there.Jakarta (ANTARA) - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has hinted that the third round of stimulus measures will focus on the health sector, particularly on containing the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country.
"The third stimulus will still be the same as I have conveyed. It will target the health sector, and we will assess all needs so we can direct funds there," she said in a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday.
However, she said, she is still undecided on the quantum of funds that need to be allocated to finance the third round of the stimulus measures as she still needs to calculate the budgetary requirements in coordination with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and the Health Ministry.
The minister said the funds for the third stimulus package will be used to improve the capacity and quality of hospitals, including procurement of protective clothing for medical workers.
She said the stimulus is aimed not only at handling COVID-19 patients, but also supporting medical supplies manufacturers.
"The stimulus will continue to focus on the social safety net, but we still have to look at the current condition," she said.
She expressed the hope the stimulus will benefit not only 40 percent of the poor, but also the informal sector, including traders.
"We will look at which is the most solid database covering the informal sector because what we have now are ultra micro, KUR (people's business credit), PKH (family hope program), and BNPT (non-cash food assistance) groups. This means that if we want the money to go to families, we already have a channel," she said.
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Translator: Astrid Faidlatul Habibah/Suhar
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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