The largest (funding) realization was that for the BNPB (the National Disaster Mitigation Agency). Of the total Rp3.5 trillion of the budget, we have disbursed Rp2.9 trillionJakarta (ANTARA) - The Finance Ministry disbursed funding of Rp2.9 trillion, out of the Rp3.5 trillion budgeted for the COVID-19 handling task force, Senior Advisor to Finance Minister for State Expenditure Kunta Wibawa Dasa Nugraha stated.
"The largest (funding) realization was that for the BNPB (the National Disaster Mitigation Agency). Of the total Rp3.5 trillion of the budget, we have disbursed Rp2.9 trillion," Nugraha remarked during a virtual discussion here on Wednesday.
The funding was directed to procure personal protection equipment (PPE), healthcare devices, and COVID-19 test kits, as well as for medical treatment, mobilization and logistics, quarantine, and repatriation of Indonesians abroad.
In the meantime, Nugraha noted that only Rp1.4 trillion of the total budget of Rp9.05 trillion for tax incentive in the health sector was realized.
Nugraha ensured that the government would steadily strive to expedite budget absorption for the health sector, totaling Rp87.55 trillion, to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
A budget of Rp65.8 trillion is allocated for handling the COVID-19 pandemic, incentive for medical workers reaches Rp5.9 trillion, subsidy for the National Health Insurance amounts to Rp3 trillion, and compensation for demise of medical workers reaches Rp0.3 trillion, while Rp3.5 trillion is apportioned for the COVID-19 task force and tax incentive reaches Rp9.05 trillion.
"The acceleration (of budget absorption) is based on the revised health minister’s regulation and allocation of down payment for hospital claims," he stated.
Director of Special Transfer Fund of the Ministry Putut Hari Satyaka stated that under the previous scheme, the ministry has disbursed funding of Rp58.3 trillion for 15,435 medical workers as of June 30.
"Under the new Health Minister’s Regulation No. 392 of 2020 and Finance Minister Regulation No. 15 of 2020, we have recently disbursed Rp1.3 trillion to 542 regions on July 7," he revealed.
Secretary of the Health Ministry's Human Resource Development Agency (BPPSDM) Trisa Wahjuni Putri remarked that her agency had managed Rp1.9 trillion of the budget for incentives for medical workers, and it had disbursed Rp278 billion of the funding.
Putri stated that 166 thousand medical workers in the central and regional governments were recommended to receive the incentive.
Speaking in connection with death compensation, Putri remarked that the ministry had disbursed Rp9.6 billion out of the Rp60-billion budget for 32 medical workers, who died while fulfilling their duties to treat COVID-19 patients.
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Astrid FH, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
