Jakarta – The government continues to demonstrate its commitment to expanding access to basic community services through the flagship program of the Red and White Village Cooperative. One of the strategic steps that is currently being promoted is the development of Village Pharmacies as part of the cooperative’s business unit, which not only supports the health of village communities but also strengthens local economic independence.
This program is a synergy across ministries and institutions led directly by President Prabowo Subianto, and coordinated by the Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan. In a meeting with BUMN, Zulhas revealed that each Red and White Village Cooperative will receive initial capital of IDR 3 to IDR 5 billion which is distributed through a digital scheme by BUMN banks that are members of the State-Owned Bank Association (Himbara).
“This time the cooperatives must not fail, because the President’s order is that cooperatives must succeed. Capital is prepared, a digital system is implemented, and full support from BUMN is given,” said Zulhas.
From the capital, the village cooperative will develop six business units, one of which is a village pharmacy. This step has received strong support from the Ministry of Health, which through Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin emphasized the importance of the role of village pharmacies and clinics as the frontline of public health services.
“Village pharmacies are an extension of the state in reaching public health to remote areas. In addition to health services, this unit will also function commercially through cooperatives,” explained Budi at the Kick-off & Socialization of Presidential Instruction No. 9 of 2025.
Budi said that the establishment of village pharmacies and clinics requires a budget of around IDR 1 billion per unit, and in 2025, the government has prepared a fund allocation of IDR 700 billion to build 700 village pharmacies and clinics throughout Indonesia.
With the infrastructure largely in place, the government is now focusing on improving regulations, increasing human resource capacity, and strengthening cooperative-based business models.
“The people are there, the assets are there, the budget is there. We just need to integrate them into one efficient and empowering service system,” Budi stressed.
Through this Village Pharmacy program, the government is not only providing more equitable access to health care, but also creating new economic opportunities for village communities, in the spirit of mutual cooperation and national independence.