Regent-Mayor Lelet Disbursed Incentive For Healthcare Workers In Gorontalo, Governor Rusli Habibie Threatens To Go To Jalan Pimpin Demo

GORONTALO - Gorontalo Governor Rusli Habibie asked regents and mayors in the area to immediately pay incentives for health workers (nakes). In fact, he is ready to lead demonstrations with health workers if the incentives do not dissipate.

He admitted that he was annoyed that the health worker incentive payment in Gorontalo Province was one of the lowest.

"At this rate, we will send a letter to the Ministry of Health. If necessary, the President asks for an evaluation directly from the district/city government. He said there were no funds, even though it was refocusing," he said while chairing a virtual meeting with provincial, district and city health offices, as well as the hospitals and health centers quoted from Antara, Saturday, July 24.

The governor admitted that he was concerned that many districts and cities had not disbursed the health worker incentives. Even though the work during the prevention and handling of COVID-19 is quite optimal.

"Why am I talking like this because I went to the field, I know their condition. I went to the BPOM laboratory during Lebaran, they just worked for Lebaran. Especially at Labkesda which sorts out samples. Sometimes the regents and mayors go out in the field, so they know the condition of health workers ," he said.

Meanwhile, Head of the Financial Agency Danial Ibrahim said that the provincial, district and city governments have sufficient funds from the refocusing of the 2021 APBD.

He gave the example of Gorontalo City, from the total General Allocation Fund (DAU) of IDR 481 billion, it should have budgeted for refocusing of 8 percent or IDR 38.55 billion for handling COVID-19.

"The Gorontalo City Government has only budgeted around Rp. 5.32 billion. That is also to pay the health workers' incentive debt from August to December 2020. The incentives in 2021 have not been paid and the amount is approximately Rp. 16.7 billion," he explained.

He added that the Gorontalo Provincial Government is consistent with budget refocusing.

Of the total DAU of IDR 940.6 billion, the provincial government has allocated IDR 75.8 billion of refocusing funds, or around IDR 500 million more than required.

Of this total, Rp. 14.3 billion, specifically for health workers incentives.

"As of July 16, 2021, the provincial government has paid Rp7.57 billion or 52.72 percent of the total health worker incentives," he added.

This amount consists of Rp1.22 billion for 154 specialist doctors, Rp761 million for 193 general practitioners and dentists, and Rp471 billion for 783 midwives and nurses. There are also incentives for 203 other health workers amounting to Rp.866 million.