House of Representatives Members: Increase Research Funds to Strengthen Health Resilience

Member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Arzeti Bilbina. ANTARA/HO-DPR RI Public Relations English: Member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Arzeti Bilbina. ANTARA/HO-DPR RI Public Relations

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Arzeti Bilbina, said that the increase in the national research budget from Rp. 8 trillion to Rp. 12 trillion is expected to have an impact on strengthening national health resilience.

"The increase in research budgets is a positive step. However, what is far more important is how this Rp12 trillion fund also has an impact on strengthening the national health system and the benefits are felt by the community," said Arzeti in Jakarta, Antara, Wednesday, January 21.

According to him, the increase in research budgets is a strategic momentum to answer various health issues that Indonesia is still facing, ranging from the burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases, health service inequalities between regions, to dependence on imported health products and technology.

He also assessed that without a clear policy direction and focus on the real needs of the health sector, increasing research budgets risked not being optimal in strengthening national resilience.

He highlighted several priorities that need attention. First, strengthening research and development of health human resources. According to him, research must support efforts to meet the needs of doctors, nurses, and specialist health workers, especially in lagging, leading, and outermost areas (3T).

Second, strengthening national and international research collaboration. Arzeti encourages synergy between universities, research institutions, the health industry, and global partners to accelerate innovation, technology transfer, and the independence of the national pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

Third, the development of research based on local potential. He assessed that Indonesia has a very large wealth of biodiversity and herbal resources. Thus, scientific research based on evidence of traditional medicines and natural materials needs to be strengthened so that it can contribute to the national health and economic systems.

"Fourth, applied research for national health resilience must be the focus, including research on endemic diseases, increasing laboratory capacity, health information systems, and emergency preparedness and risk mitigation," he said.

Arzeti also emphasized that health resilience is not only determined by the development of physical facilities, but also by the sovereignty of science, innovation, and the ability of the nation to respond to global challenges such as pandemics, demographic changes, and shifts in disease patterns.

"With this additional research budget, the government has a great opportunity to make health research the foundation of national development. Don't let the budget increase, but our health resilience remains fragile," said Arzeti.

It is known that the government has increased the national research budget from around Rp. 8 trillion to Rp. 12 trillion for the 2026 fiscal year. The increase is seen as an important step to strengthen the national research ecosystem.