PRIME NEWS POST
Mandailing Natal – North Sumatra activist and youth figure Misron Saidi, widely known as Ade Batubara, has again drawn attention to the use of the 2025 Health Operational Assistance Fund (BOK) budget of the Mandailing Natal (Madina) Regency Health Agency, valued at Rp5,181,564,784.
According to him, a number of irregularities require transparent investigation to uphold accountability in the use of public funds, including allegations of substantial levies amounting to Rp20–30 million per community health center (puskesmas) that have emerged in the field and need to be verified.
Based on compiled investigation findings, the budget is divided into two procurement packages: Basic Health Services Medicine Procurement worth Rp3,661,864,784 and Sanitarian Kit Reagent Procurement worth Rp1,519,700,000, announced simultaneously on 20 March 2025.
Ade Batubara stated that the large budget value raises questions regarding priority setting, efficiency, and the reasonableness of unit prices.
“Every rupiah from the Regional Budget must deliver tangible benefits to the community. If indications of inefficiency, unreasonable pricing, or strong evidence of unauthorized levies are found, all parties have an obligation to conduct open oversight and audits,” Ade Batubara emphasized.
He noted that the Rp3.66 billion medicine procurement package is recorded as a single contract to serve 26 puskesmas across Mandailing Natal Regency. This format lacks detailed allocations for each facility, creating potential for unequal distribution.
If divided evenly, each puskesmas would receive approximately Rp140.8 million over nine months, or around Rp15.6 million per month.
He further questioned the absence of Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) standards in the large-scale medicine procurement funded by the regional budget.
“Equally concerning,” Ade Batubara said, “is that while 2026 BOK operational spending appears substantial, reports indicate shortages of basic medicines at one puskesmas.”
“Such conditions require public clarification so the community understands whether this significant budget is truly improving health services,” he added.
Attention was also directed at the procurement of 26 Sanitarian Kits with a total budget of Rp1,519,700,000, or approximately Rp58.45 million per unit.
Ade Batubara said these prices need to be verified for reasonableness, noting that market rates for comparable equipment typically range from Rp15 million to Rp25 million per unit, depending on specifications. Any significant price difference warrants an independent audit to prevent waste of regional funds.
Beyond pricing concerns, he highlighted the lack of visible attention to hazardous chemical waste management from laboratory reagents, as well as potential overlap between this procurement and existing health operational budgets.
Ade Batubara also raised questions about the reported levies, noting that the practice had become common knowledge publicly. He called on all stakeholders to examine the issue together to restore public trust in local health services.
He urged government internal supervisors, the Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BPK), law enforcement agencies, and all elements of society to collaborate in overseeing the 2025 BOK budget to ensure transparency, effectiveness, and accountability.
—
Reported from various media sources //photo from Google documents // contribution by Prime News Post international online media // news.paper
Related News
