T

he Health Ministry has requested a budget allocation of Rp 654 billion (US$51.27 million) to improve primary health-care facilities across Indonesia.

'€œMinistry data shows that many community health center [Puskesmas] facilities need improvement because of moderate to heavy damage,'€ Health Minister Nila Moeloek said as quoted by Antara news agency on the sidelines of the 2015 central regional chapter National Health Coordination Meeting (Rakerkesnas) in Bali on Monday.

She added that the proposed budgetary allocations would be included in the upcoming revised 2015 state budget through specific-purpose grant (DAK) and assistance-provision mechanisms.

The minister further explained that the efforts were intended to boost health-care services both at primary and referral healthcare facilities.

'€œIt is hoped that 6,000 Puskesmas will reach the standard of health-care services stipulated in the health minister'€™s regulations,'€ Nila said.

'€œIt is also hoped that 184 regional referral hospitals and 14 national referral hospitals can be built in stages until 2019,'€ she went on.

The minister said the Health Ministry would partner with the Home Affairs Ministry in strengthening health-care services at primary-care facilities.

'€œWe need to cooperate with the Home Affairs Ministry so there will be a strong synergy between central and regional authorities because we feel that this relationship has been disconnected [after the implementation of regional autonomy],'€ said Nila, adding that with such a partnership, regional administrations would pay closer attention to the populace'€™s basic health needs.