RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian government and the Australian government have officially launched the KITA SEHAT (Indonesia–Australia Health Transformation Partnership) partnership program, valued at up to AUD 100 million. This joint investment program, covering the 2025–2033 period, focuses on strengthening primary healthcare services, health resilience, and the One Health approach from the national level to remote areas.

The program was launched at the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas Office in Jakarta on Monday, July 20, 2026. This long-term partnership will be implemented in two phases, involving the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Agriculture as implementing agencies, in coordination with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and supported by WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA as development partners.

Indonesia's Health Minister, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, underscored that any international support must be strategically designed to provide tangible impacts that can be directly felt by the community, especially in primary healthcare facilities. "I ask for support to ensure the smooth operation of primary care services, including ensuring immunization coverage increases to above 90 percent, implementing free health checks, reducing stunting, and controlling disease risk factors," Minister of Health Budi emphasized.

On the same occasion, Febrian Alphyanto Ruddyard, Deputy Head of Bappenas, assessed that the success of this partnership is not measured by ceremonial aspects, but by the capacity that can be built and left behind for Indonesia. "What we are building through this partnership between the central government, regional governments, academics, professional organizations, the business community, and development partners is a space for mutual learning, strengthening national capacity, and generating joint solutions," Febrian conveyed.

Meanwhile, Australian Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia, Gita Kamath, stated that Australia views Indonesia as a key strategic partner, not only in the bilateral relationship, but also in building health resilience in the Indo-Pacific region. "For more than three decades, Australia and Indonesia have worked together to strengthen primary health care, support immunization and disease control, improve maternal and infant health, and build a more resilient health system," said Gita Kamath.

He added that through KITA SEHAT, the Australian Government is committed to supporting the program's success for years to come through systemic, community-reaching interventions. "Australia is proud to stand alongside Indonesia in implementing this program, and we are committed to its future success," he said.

As an initial step, the KITA SEHAT program will be implemented intensively at the national level and in three pilot provinces: West Java, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and Southwest Papua. In its implementation, all programs will integrate a locally led approach (based on local leadership), gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI), and climate resilience to accelerate the realization of the social justice target of "Health for All" towards a Golden Indonesia 2045.