Health Minister Discloses Reasons behind Self-Paid Vaccine Program Plan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin confirmed that the Gotong Royong vaccination program for individuals was planned because similar programs through private companies did not meet the government’s expectations.

“It turns out that in reality, the implementation of [the Gotong Royong private vaccine program] is not as good as we expected,” Budi said at a work meeting with Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Tuesday, July 13.

The idea of the mutual cooperation vaccine program, the minister added, was originally created because of the perception that the government would be less agile in administering vaccinations than the private sector so that they were expected to boost the government’s mass vaccination scheme.

Besides, the private sector contributed up to 70 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “[The vaccine program] will run faster with the help of private sectors,” Budi shared initial thoughts of the Gotong Royong vaccination scheme which allows private companies to organize and pay for vaccines for their employees.

However, the program did not live up to expectations. The government was suggested to establish an individually-paid vaccine program, which was then discussed in a meeting initiated by the Covid-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Committee in the Coordinating Ministry for Economy Office on June 26.

Health Minister Budi underlined that his side sticks to the principle that the self-paid vaccine program could boost the national vaccination program. Apart from the government, the Indonesian Military (TNI), and the National Police, the private sector was considered to be the third pillar of vaccination.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI