Health Ministry and Village Ministry Sign MoU to Strengthen Rural Health Services

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Kemendes PDT) have signed a memorandum of understanding in an effort to strengthen cross-sector synergy to improve access to and the quality of primary healthcare services down to the village and hamlet level. Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated in Jakarta on Monday that health is a primary need for the community and a crucial factor in village development. Therefore, the government must ensure that health efforts are not only through treatment but also through prevention and healthy living behaviours. “Collaboration with Kemendes PDT is very important because village governments have a major role in mobilising the community, including supporting the Free Health Screening programme, reducing stunting, controlling tuberculosis, and strengthening Posyandu,” said Budi. The scope of cooperation includes the exchange and utilisation of health and village data, strengthening of Village/Sub-district Health Service Units (UPKD/K), data-based Posyandu, improving public health literacy, community empowerment to cultivate healthy living, improving nutrition efforts, and disease control. He explained that the signing of this memorandum of understanding renews a previous cooperation that ended in February 2025, while strengthening cross-sector synergy to improve access to and the quality of primary healthcare services down to the village and hamlet level. Meanwhile, Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions Yandri Susanto said that village development cannot be separated from the aspect of public health. “Indonesia has more than 75,000 villages with very diverse conditions. There are still underdeveloped and very underdeveloped villages that need affirmation, including in the provision of basic health services. Therefore, collaboration with the Ministry of Health is very strategic,” said Yandri. The government continues to encourage the use of village funds to support public health programmes, including accelerating stunting reduction. “Every year, village funds are allocated for stunting management. Going forward, we want to ensure its use is more targeted and has a real impact on village communities,” he said. On the same occasion, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health Kunta Wibawa Dasa Nugraha conveyed that cross-sector cooperation is the key to the success of village-based health development.