Gov’t to Speed Up Distribution of Social Aids, Free Medicine Packages

Launching of free self-isolation medicine package at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Thursday (15/07/2021). (Source: Screenshot from the YouTube channel of the Presidential Secretariat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered his Cabinet to speed up the distribution of social aids and free medicine to the people amid the implementation of emergency public activity restriction (PPKM) policy as an effort to curb surge in COVID-19 cases.

The President expressed hope that the aids can ease the burden of the people.

“(The distribution) must not be late. Aspiring Family Program, direct cash assistance, and social cash assistance – none of them must be late. The most important thing is rice assistance, staple food assistance. This week, it must be distributed. Do speed it up,” the President said during a limited meeting on emergency PPKM evaluation held online on Friday (16/07), from Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.

The Head of State also ordered Ministry of Social Affairs and the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) not to hesitate in distributing social aids to the people immediately and to immediately coordinate with the Finance and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) regarding the distribution procedure.

“I order Head of Bulog and Minister of Social Affairs not to hesitate. Because the principle is, the most important thing is that we do not steal, we do not take away. The procedure should be supervised by the BPKP,” he said.

The President also expressed appreciation for the distribution of free vitamins and medicines for self-isolating COVID-19 patients without or with mild symptoms that has begun since Thursday (15/07).

“This includes free medicine distribution. Free medicines, supplements, and vitamins for the people. I highly appreciate it,” he said, adding that 600,000 packages of medicine, distributed in two batches with 300,000 packages in each batch, are insufficient.

To that end, the Head of State ordered Ministry of Finance to set aside more budget to increase the number of vitamins and medicine packages for the people to two million packages.

“I order Minister of Finance to prepare at least above two million packages. It is not expensive,” he remarked. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat/UN) (DH/EP)