The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) of the Republic of Indonesia firmly denied rumors regarding price inflation or markups in the procurement of medical equipment at KH Muhammad Thohir Regional Hospital, West Pesisir, Lampung. The issue, which recently circulated widely on social media, was confirmed to be baseless and the result of an information misunderstanding.
Head of the Bureau of Communication and Public Information at the Ministry of Health, Aji Muhawarman, explained that the IDR 30 billion figure mentioned by Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin during the hospital inauguration was not specifically intended for hemodialysis (HD) services. That amount represents the average allocation value for advanced medical equipment assistance under the Strengthening Indonesia's Healthcare Referral Network (SIHREN) program for 66 regional hospitals included in the Quick Win Program list.
Specifically, Krui Regional Hospital received IDR 31.7 billion in assistance for procuring advanced equipment such as a 64-slice CT scan, cath lab, and other radiology equipment. Additionally, the government disbursed an extra IDR 25 billion for basic medical equipment to support operating room and emergency service operations, bringing the total support received by Krui Regional Hospital to IDR 56.7 billion.
Aji hopes the public will be wiser in filtering circulating information and not fall for hoaxes. This budget transparency is part of the government's commitment to strengthening medical infrastructure in the regions so that the people of West Pesisir can access comprehensive healthcare without needing to refer patients outside the region.
