PRIME NEWS POST

The INDONESIAN (Panyabungan)— Calls for a thorough review of health budget management in Mandailing Natal Regency have grown stronger.

Misron Saidi, a prominent youth figure in North Sumatra, has formally requested the North Sumatra Representative Office of the Supreme Audit Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BPK‑RI) to carry out a Special‑Purpose Audit covering the Health Operational Assistance Fund (BOK) for the 2024–2025 fiscal period, alongside a full performance audit of all 26 Community Health Centres (Puskesmas) operating across Mandailing Natal Regency.

Misron conveyed this demand to reporters in Panyabungan on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. He explained that previous audit efforts had not fully addressed public questions and widespread doubts regarding the quality and delivery of health services on the ground.

“We urge BPK‑RI’s North Sumatra office to examine the use of BOK resources in Mandailing Natal for 2024‑2025 thoroughly. Specifically, the 2025 budget line for medicines under the BOK‑Family Health programme amounts to Rp 3.66 billion, sourced from the regional budget and intended for distribution across all 26 health centres. Averaged out, each centre is allocated roughly Rp 140.8 million to cover the period from April through December 2025,” Misron stated.

According to records from the Electronic Procurement Service (LPSE), the procurement package titled “Basic Health Service Medicine Procurement — BOK‑Family Health Programme, Mandailing Natal Regency Health Office, Fiscal Year 2025” was announced on 20 March 2025 using the E‑Purchasing method. The tender required preference for domestically manufactured goods and reserved eligibility for small‑scale business entities.

Audit Must Go Beyond Document Checks

Misron noted that while BOK management in 2024‑2025 had reportedly been subject to review, public complaints persist — notably regarding chronic shortages of medicines and uneven service standards.

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“Numerous irregularities have drawn public attention: medicines frequently run out at health centres; discrepancies have been flagged between approved budget estimates and actual field conditions; and pricing inconsistencies have been observed compared with equivalent items listed in the national procurement portal managed by the Government Goods/Services Procurement Policy Institute (LKPP). This is precisely why we require deeper scrutiny — especially over the Rp 3.66 billion medicine procurement budget,” he emphasised.

In his view, auditors should not limit their work to reviewing administrative files held only at the Health Office headquarters.

“The review must extend directly to all 26 health centres. Inspectors need to physically verify medicine stocks, take statements from health workers, and cross‑check purchase prices against standard rates published in the official LKPP Electronic Catalogue. Where evidence points to inflated pricing, fictitious procurement, or other irregularities, findings must be disclosed openly to prevent or recover losses to public funds,” he said.

Scrutinise Operational Performance Across All 26 Health Centres

Beyond financial compliance checks, Misron also urged BPK to conduct full‑scope performance audits covering health facilities across the entire regency — from Sinunukan, Natal, and Panyabungan, to Kotanopan and Puncak Sorik Marapi areas.

“Do not audit only the Health Office central administration. Visit every health centre and observe service delivery directly. Verify whether essential medicines are available; medical staff are present according to rosters; operating hours meet minimum service standards; BPJS national health insurance procedures are not made unnecessarily difficult; and no informal fees or levies are charged. The whole purpose of the BOK programme is to deliver tangible benefits felt by the community,” he argued.

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Performance assessment is especially vital, Misron added, because Community Health Centres serve as the primary frontline of basic healthcare provision.

“When health centres operate effectively and deliver quality care, budget accountability at the agency level becomes far clearer and more credible. Conversely, persistent service shortcomings at facility level signal a need to review the entire governance framework governing BOK funds,” he explained.

He further called on the Mandailing Natal Regency Health Office to publish all relevant planning documents — including Annual Work and Budget Plans (RKA) as well as budget implementation reports — in full compliance with Law No. 14 of 2008 on Public Information Transparency and Disclosure.

“An allocation averaging Rp 140 million per health centre over nine months is not an insignificant sum. Residents have a legitimate right to know exactly what medicines are purchased, in what quantities, at what unit prices, and whether stocks are sufficient to meet service needs,” Misron added.

He stressed that the demand for rigorous audit represents active public oversight and participation in safeguarding the proper use of state funds.

“We are not making accusations. What we seek is certainty, transparency, and accountability. If management practices are sound, an independent audit will serve as public confirmation of that integrity. If violations are uncovered, however, legal processes must follow fairly and consistently, without exception,” Misron concluded.

At the time of publication, official responses have yet to be received from the Mandailing Natal Regency Health Office, the Regency Inspectorate, or BPK‑RI North Sumatra regarding the implementation of the 2025 BOK‑Family Health medicine procurement or the formal request for expanded audit authority. Follow‑up efforts continue to ensure balanced reporting and respect for the right of reply.