Ministry needs US$31 million to restore disaster-hit health units

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said during a meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta on Wednesday that all hospitals and community health centres are currently operational.

He said the ministry needs the funds to renovate around 3,000 health facilities and approximately 8,800 homes of health workers affected by the disaster.

The renovation is expected to restore the damaged facilities to full operational capacity by March 2026.

He added that the funding request had been submitted to President Prabowo Subianto on 20 January, along with a request for expedited approval.

The data on affected health workers has been verified by the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Budi expressed hope that the funds could be disbursed in March.

During the same meeting, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the requested allocation could be included in the proposed budget for the Disaster Task Force.

He added that of the Rp60 trillion (nearly US$3.6 billion) initially allocated for post-disaster recovery, a substantial portion remains available.