TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Health Ministry’s Head of Human Resources Development and Empowerment Agency (PPSDM), Abdul Kadir, admitted bureaucratic red tape had hindered the payment of incentives for health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kadir said the hiccups in the payment were caused by the late payment proposals of health workers’ incentives from regional health service facilities, which required internal verifications prior to their submission to the Health Ministry.

“The process is too long, so it needs time to transfer it to regions. Delay in payment is also caused by slow approval of the budget execution lists (DIPA) by the Finance Ministry,” said Kadir on Monday, June 29.

Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto, he added, had amended the Minister’s Regulation No. 278/2020 to simplify the process. Thus, the verifications will be under the authority of Health Agencies in cities, regencies, and provinces.

“The Health Ministry will only confirm the proposals of incentive payment for medical workers from vertical hospitals, such as military or police hospitals, emergency hospitals, and private ones. The ministry will also verify the proposals from the KKP, laboratories, and BTKL,” Kadir elaborated.

Kadir went on to explain that out of the Rp1.9 trillion-fund managed by the Health Ministry, Rp226 billion had been paid to 25,311 medical personnel.

“This is from the target of 78,472 health workers. This means it is almost 30 percent of the target,” Kadir remarked, adding that compensation funds for death cases had been paid up to Rp14.1 billion to 47 recipients.

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ANTARA