JAKARTA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is seeking an additional 26 billion to 27 billion U.S. dollars over the next five years to finance the transformation of its national health system and increase life expectancy, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said Tuesday.
Speaking at the fourth Indonesia Health Partners Meeting, Sadikin said the government aims to raise life expectancy to 76 years and healthy life expectancy to 65 years, in line with targets set by President Prabowo Subianto.
The health system transformation is estimated to require 223 billion dollars, with about 203 billion dollars already secured from the government and the health system. Of that amount, 177 billion dollars has been allocated to the transformation, leaving a funding gap of 26 billion to 27 billion dollars over the next five years, Sadikin said.
Indonesia is seeking to close the gap by strengthening cooperation with international development partners and philanthropic organizations.
"We are trying to build trust with our global partners and philanthropists," Sadikin said, noting that international cooperation has helped expand access to health technologies.
Recent initiatives include the distribution of about 300,000 anthropometric devices to community health posts, 10,000 ultrasound machines to health centers and X-ray machines for tuberculosis screening.
Indonesia is also deploying near point-of-care testing technology, providing free health checkups and expanding genomic testing as part of efforts to strengthen disease prevention and early detection. ■