Ministry of Health Partners With Attorney General's to Oversee Health Center

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Health has partnered with the Attorney General's Office to oversee the construction of health infrastructure projects worth trillions of rupiah, including the renovation of 10,000 community health centers and the revitalization of hundreds of hospitals, to keep the programs free of legal problems and potential irregularities. The agreement was formalized through two Cooperation Agreements signed at the Attorney General's Office in Jakarta on Monday, September 21.

The agreements were signed by Ministry of Health Secretary General Kunta Wibawa Dasa Nugraha along with Deputy Attorney General for Intelligence Reda Manthovani and Deputy Attorney General for Civil and Administrative Affairs Narendra Jatna. Under the arrangement, the Intelligence division will directly monitor the progress of the programs while the Civil and Administrative Affairs division will provide legal support for any civil or administrative issues that arise.

The move comes as the ministry prepares to carry out large scale projects in the near future. It aims to renovate 10,000 community health centers across 7,285 subdistricts, build 514 public health laboratories, and revitalize 441 regional hospitals and psychiatric hospitals throughout Indonesia, all of which directly affect the health services people rely on daily.

Beyond construction, the ministry also manages a substantial procurement budget. It reported saving the state as much as 10.25 trillion rupiah, or 52.9 percent, on medical equipment procurement, along with 1.2 trillion rupiah, or 38.6 percent, on medicine and medical consumables during the 2025 to 2026 period.

Secretary General Kunta Wibawa Dasa Nugraha said legal support was deliberately brought in starting at the planning stage rather than after problems occur. "We hope the support and guidance from the Attorney General's Office can be provided as early as possible, starting from the planning stage. Prevention is better than cure," he said.

Deputy Attorney General Reda Manthovani said this early prevention approach is meant to minimize the risk of violations that could harm the state and slow down public health services. "Through this cooperation, we hope to create a safe working environment and provide legal certainty for all Ministry of Health officials carrying out their duties," he said. Deputy Attorney General Narendra Jatna added that his office would offer legal guidance to ensure health policies stay within the bounds of regulation.

Both agreements will remain in effect for two years, until September 21, 2028, and follow up on a memorandum of understanding signed earlier by the Minister of Health and the Attorney General. The Ministry of Health had previously also worked with the Deputy Attorney General for General Crimes to strengthen the role of civil servant investigators within the ministry.

Kunta stressed that the partnership should not remain merely a formality. "This cooperation must not stay only on paper. This synergy has to lead to better health services and stronger protection for the public," he said.