Indonesian President Joko Widodo ordered the Health Ministry to quickly incentivize medical workers who treat COVID-19 patients and called for bureaucratic steps to be slashed if necessary. 

“Don’t stagnant the procedure. If the bureaucracy is complicated then simplify them,” said the president as he opened the weekly meeting with the national COVID-19 task force at the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta on Monday. 

He made it clear he does not want to hear another complaint coming from healthcare workers that did not receive incentives, which include medical workers who perished while on duty. 

“What are we waiting for? The budget is there,” said the president. The incentives for healthcare workers and medics in the front line of the COVID-19 crisis were voiced by Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo who said that the incentives have yet been distributed from the Central Government. Even though the Health Ministry’s regulation had already been issued. 

The Indonesian Nurses Association (PPNI) once stated that the incentives have yet been distributed to medical workers due to the bureaucratic policies and the verification process issued by the Health Ministry. (tempo.co)