COVID-19 Cases Increase, Government Disburses IDR 20 Trillion To Pay Patient Claims

JAKARTA - The government through the Ministry of Finance reports that the recent increase in active cases of COVID-19 has implications for the use of the state budget to pay claims for patients treated in hospitals.

Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani, said that until June 17, 2022, the value of the State Budget (APBN) that had been disbursed had reached IDR 20.3 trillion.

"The amount is included in the budget for Handling Covid-19 and National Economic Recovery 2022 (PC-PEN) in the field of health care", she said while giving a presentation on the realization of the latest State Budget (APBN) some time ago.

In detail, the Minister of Finance explained that this cluster of health care includes several strategic matters being handled, such as the realization of incentives for health workers of IDR 2 trillion, and procurement of vaccines of IDR 1.6 trillion.

Then, health tax incentives of IDR 1.2 trillion, and village funds for handling COVID-19 of IDR 2.5 trillion.

"The PC-PEN program must be responsive and anticipatory", she stressed.

Meanwhile, the total ceiling for this year's health care cluster is IDR 122.5 trillion with the total absorption as of June 17 of IDR 27.6 trillion, or about 22.5 percent of the total.

"In the midst of the risk of escalating global uncertainty, the role of the State Budget as a shock absorber needs to be maintained to function optimally", closed the Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani.