Pelalawan, Riau (ANTARA) - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that the provision of health services to the community needs the involvement of and cooperation from several parties and cannot be done by the government alone.

"It is impossible for the government to do all of these health services. This requires joint efforts where all components of society are involved," he stated after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the government and APRIL Group in Pelalawan district, Riau, on Tuesday.

For example, the distribution of vaccines to the community requires help from other stakeholders, he pointed out.

"Vaccinations have been successful not because of the ministry, but also all parties, such as the National Police, the Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI), entrepreneurs, and others," he expounded.

Therefore, his ministry and the APRIL Group have signed an agreement to strengthen the integration of primary health services in Pelalawan district, Riau, as a form of cooperation between the government and the private sector.

"This is a very good start. In the next few months, we will start cooperation with other parties as well. Hopefully, hundreds or thousands of companies will help strengthen primary health services such as immunization, stunting, and others," the minister informed.

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The cooperation between the Ministry of Health and APRIL Group, a pulp and paper producer based in Pangkalan Kerinci, Pelalawan district, Riau province, is aimed at supporting the government's priority programs.

"Collaboration is a significant step in realizing health transformation through the integration of primary health services," Sadikin disclosed.

He said the MoU is expected to strengthen the accessibility of health facilities at the primary healthcare level, especially in Riau province.

He also informed that the cooperation, which will be in the form of collaboration through a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme, is being carried out by the two parties for the first time.

"This collaboration targets to increase minimum service standards (SPM) in the public health sector, especially for pregnant women, children under five, teenagers, (people from the) productive age (group), and the elderly. It also aims to encourage early detection and accelerate referral at the primary healthcare level through a life cycle approach," he said.

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Translator: Ilham Kausar, Resinta S
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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