DPR Approved The Budget Allocation Plan For The COVID-19 Vaccine

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The government plans to allocate a budget for the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine in the 2021 Draft State Budget. Member of the House of Representatives Commission IX Intan Fauzi supports the plan, but its use must be optimized.

"The basic principle is every rupiah, every public money that is deposited into the state treasury, the APBN must be used properly and as much as possible for the benefit of the people. Therefore, the governance of using this budget must provide maximum benefits for the people," said Intan. information was reported by Antara, Jakarta, Saturday, July 25.

Any pro-people government policy, continued Intan, through a mechanism in the DPR must be supported because in fact the APBN is a political agreement on the people's budget.

According to Intan, whatever amount of budget is needed, it must be supported as long as it refers to the existing legislation.

"Currently, the public has high hopes for the news conveyed by the government that the COVID-19 vaccine will be available soon," said Intan.

The government officially announced a collaboration between Bio Farma and the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Tech to conduct a third phase clinical trial in Indonesia. The Sinovac clinical trial was not only carried out in Indonesia but also in several other countries such as Brazil and Bangladesh.

"So the nature of the clinical trial is multi-centered and the results must be thoroughly evaluated to ensure the efficacy according to WHO recommendations, which is above 70-80 percent. As well as coordinating with relevant government institutions, including the Ministry of Health, Bio Farma, BPOM, and the Eijkman Institute," he said. Diamond.

Apart from clinical trials with Sinovac, the Indonesian government is also collaborating with several other entities.

Intan assessed of course that the government must open efforts so that the availability of the vaccine does not depend on just one collaboration.

"It is also necessary to encourage the production of the nation's children, especially since Indonesia has a trusted state-owned pharmaceutical company, Biofarma," he said.

Currently other efforts are being made, namely the collaboration between Kalbe Farma and Genexine from South Korea, PT BCHT Biotechnology Indonesia with China Sinopharm International Corporation, the Eikjman Institute with the Ministry of Health and Universities with a special strain from Indonesia.

Bio Farma itself will start producing the COVID-19 vaccine in early 2021 with a maximum capacity of 250 million doses if it passes the stage 3 clinical trial.

"What must be paid close attention to is the assurance of clinical trial protocols that are in accordance with the procedure, not only as long as it is available quickly and when the vaccine is available, the government must ensure access for the community so that it reaches coverage for community immunity," said Intan.

Moreover, continued Intan, in 2020 there will be a health and economic crisis that affects all sectors of people's lives. Budget allocation must be right on target.

"It's useless if we have a budget, but the budget cannot be quickly spent on the people. Even though the people need it," said Intan.

As an illustration, the budget absorption capacity for handling COVID-19 is still very low. The realization as of July 1, 2020, of the total budget allocation for handling COVID-19 amounting to Rp.695.2 trillion, only Rp. 127.4 trillion or equivalent to 18.3 percent has been spent.

Even though the state has prepared a budget to finance all these programs. Again, continued Intan, the implementation and execution of the program had not been optimal. Therefore, it is important to take steps that are fast, precise and efficient.

"The government must make a breakthrough policy during a pandemic. This extraordinary policy is for the interests of the people, for the interests of the nation and state," said Intan.

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