Preventing The COVID-19 Vaccine From Becoming Eliminate Corruptors, KPK Provides Assistance

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is providing assistance to the COVID-19 vaccination program, which is currently the focus of the government. Assistance is carried out so that in the future this program does not become a problem for corruptors.

"The KPK will provide assistance starting from policy formulation to implementation, that is what we will do. Again, for the sake of the health of the community but also not to corrupt COVID-19 funds," Ghufron told reporters, Monday, December 21.

Ghufron explained that since last March, his party has deployed 10 task force teams to prevent corrupt practices in handling COVID-19 in the country.

This team, he continued, moved not only to oversee the prevention of economic impacts but also various other aspects including health.

"Starting from the procurement of medical equipment, including if a vaccine has been found, of course the KPK will accompany it so that this vaccine is effective in curing COVID-19, is efficient, and does not cause losses to the state," he said.

Previously reported, the Indonesian government has prepared two implementation schemes for COVID-19 vaccination, namely the government program scheme and the independent scheme.

For the procurement of the COVID-19 vaccine, the government program scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) and the independent scheme is implemented by the Ministry of BUMN. Of the immunization coverage target of 107 million people, 75 million are for the independent scheme target group, while 32 million are for the government program scheme.

Vaccination targets for government schemes are health workers in all health facilities, essential public servants and vulnerable groups of people. Meanwhile, for the independent scheme, other economic actors include BPJS participants, non-BPJS / other insurance, and public / private participants.

This independent scheme then raises the pros and cons. Because, in this scheme later, residents who want to get vaccines must spend from their own pockets.

Later, the government decided that the COVID-19 vaccine for the public was free. This was conveyed by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) through a video statement uploaded on Wednesday, December 16.

The decision to free vaccines was taken after the government heard input from the public and carried out a recalculation of state finances.

"So after receiving input from the public and after recalculating, recalculating state finances, I can say that the COVID-19 vaccine for the public is free. There is no charge at all," Jokowi said in a video statement uploaded to the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account.

Furthermore, he ordered line ministries, agencies and local governments to prioritize the vaccination program in the 2021 budget year.

In addition, he instructed the Minister of Finance to prioritize and reallocate another budget for the availability of this free vaccine. So, in the future there will be no more reasons for the community not to get vaccines.

"I have instructed all cabinet ministries, agencies and local governments to prioritize the vaccination program for the 2021 fiscal year," he said.