VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto (center) at a press conference on the Committee for COVID-19 handling and National Economic Recovery in Jakarta on Tuesday (July 21, 2020). ANTARA/Dewa Wiguna/sh

The Indonesian government will attach top priority to domestic products in its healthcare spending for handling the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in an endeavor to drive domestic economic growth amid the pandemic.

"National products must be given priority to have multiplier effects on the public," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The government will augment health spending, as it has allotted Rp87.55 trillion for handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vaccines, drug availability, and antibodies have emerged as the keys to the effective handling of the SARS CoV-2 virus coupled with the pharmaceutical industry's readiness to support the government, Hartarto remarked.

However, the minister noted that the application of health protocols remained the main strategy in thwarting the spread of COVID-19.

"Of course, the major strategy pertaining to surveillance, tracing, contact tracing and isolation must be implemented in addition to the health protocols, such as washing hands, wearing masks, and physical distancing. This will necessitate the involvement of all stakeholders and the public," he expounded.

Healthcare spending focusing on domestic products became the agenda at the first meeting of the newly established Committee for COVID-19 handling and National Economic Recovery led by Hartarto.

The committee was formed in accordance with Presidential Regulation No. 82 of 2020.

The committee involves the coordinating minister for human development and cultural affairs, coordinating minister for maritime affairs and investment, finance minister, health minister, and home affairs minister.

The state enterprises minister was tasked with functioning as the committee’s chief executive. The Task Force for Acceleration of COVID-19 Handling and Task Force for National Economic Recovery and Transformation will work under the committee’s coordination. (ANTARA)