..we want to ensure village communities gain access to quality medicines at reasonable prices, managed professionally and responsibly,Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono inaugurated 10 pilot drugstore outlets operated by Red and White Village Cooperatives to strengthen basic services in the health sector for the public.
The 10 pilot locations are spread across several regions, including Depok City, Bintan, Bengkalis, Rokan Hulu, Banyumas, Jember, and Central Lombok.
“Over the next three months, we will observe business models to be developed in providing health services and affordable medicines for the community,” Juliantono said at the launch of a pilot Red and White cooperative drugstore in Abadijaya, Depok City, on Tuesday, as quoted from a press release.
Under the Red and White Village Cooperatives program, the Prabowo-Gibran government has outlined 13 objectives, including empowering rural residents, creating jobs, improving access to essential commodities and services, alleviating extreme poverty, curbing inflation, and boosting farmers’ exchange rates.
The minister expressed appreciation to Indofarma, a state-owned pharmaceutical and medical device company, as well as private partners that supported the pilot cooperatives through the provision of over-the-counter medicines and supporting facilities.
According to him, developing health service-based business units is a strategic step for cooperatives to provide access to safe and affordable medicines in line with prevailing laws and regulations.
Juliantono added that the launch of the 10 pilot Red and White village cooperative drugstores marked a milestone in implementing a new cooperative business model that integrates mutual cooperation with real community needs.
“Through cooperative drugstores, we want to ensure village communities gain access to quality medicines at reasonable prices, managed professionally and responsibly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Depok Deputy Mayor Chandra Rahmansyah expressed full support for 63 Red and White cooperatives in his area by allocating Rp1.89 billion in grant funds.
Currently, the Abadijaya cooperative has partnered with three Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) kitchens and developed other business units, including savings and loan services, LPG distribution points, and mobile internet purchase counters.
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Translator: Shofi, Kenzu
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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