By: Olivia Anindita )*
The government has shown its seriousness in strengthening the health service system to remote areas by launching the Village Pharmacy initiative. This program is a real effort to answer the challenges that have so far hampered communities, especially in remote and outermost areas, in obtaining access to proper health services. This step did not come out of the blue, but rather as a reflection of the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic which showed how limited the reach of the national health infrastructure is.
The Ministry of Health realizes that the existence of 10,000 health centers at the sub-district level is not enough to serve the entire population of Indonesia spread across thousands of islands and complex geographical landscapes. When the outbreak hit, many areas had difficulty obtaining basic medical services, even for consultations or obtaining essential medicines. This reality is the main driver for the government to develop a health service scheme that is closer to rural communities. One concrete form is the provision of Village Pharmacies which are developed together with village clinics in one service ecosystem.
In its implementation, the Village Pharmacy program does not stand alone, but is integrated into the larger framework of the Red and White Village/Sub-district Cooperative. Through this scheme, village health units are not only present as providers of medical services, but also become part of strengthening the local economy. President Prabowo Subianto pays great attention to the concept of cooperative-based health services, because it is considered capable of answering two challenges at once: the affordability of services and strengthening village community institutions.
Presidential Instruction Number 9 of 2025 is the legal basis for the implementation of this program. Through this regulation, the government mandates the establishment of Village Pharmacies in around 80,000 villages and sub-districts throughout Indonesia. This assignment is not only administrative in nature, but also requires system support, human resources, and synergy between sectors. In this context, the role of the Ministry of Health is central, especially in terms of providing competent health workers.
The government is taking a collaborative approach by utilizing 54,000 existing health facilities, such as sub-health centers and village health posts. By maximizing this infrastructure, the Village Pharmacy program can be run without having to build a new system from scratch.
Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, assessed that the best solution is not to add regulations, but rather to optimize the facilities and human resources available. According to him, health workers such as nurses and paramedics can be combined with pharmaceutical workers, so that village pharmacies are able to serve the basic needs of the community, both curatively and preventively.
Chairman of the Central Board of the Indonesian Pharmacists Association, Noffendri Roestam, assessed that the Village Pharmacy initiative is a smart and strategic idea. For him, the presence of pharmacies down to the village level will reduce the disparity in health services that have so far only been centered in big cities.
Noffendri also emphasized the importance of good management so that this program does not stop at the level of discourse or symbolism. His party is committed to supporting by preparing professional pharmacists who are able to carry out service functions and drug management according to standards.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Public Health Pharmacy Seminary Association from PP IAI, Maria Ulfah, also voiced similar support. She said that the current challenge is not only about facilities, but also the availability of pharmacists in the field. Based on available data, of the approximately 10,300 health centers in Indonesia, only around 68 percent have pharmacists. The rest are still filled by vocational workers or other health workers who do not yet have full authority in pharmacy management. Therefore, according to her, strengthening human resources is a key step in ensuring the success of this program.
The government has also prepared a realistic financing scheme. With a budget allocation of IDR 700 billion in 2025, it is estimated that around 700 village clinics and pharmacies can be built and operated. In addition, cross-ministerial synergy continues to be carried out. The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Cooperatives, Ministry of Villages, and Ministry of Home Affairs are intensively preparing a business model and supporting regulations that can ensure the sustainability of this program in the long term.
President Prabowo Subianto, through his policies, has demonstrated a commitment to bringing about real change in public health services. The focus on villages is not just a political discourse, but is realized in the form of initiatives that directly touch the basic needs of residents. The involvement of the Ministry of Health, as well as the full support of professional organizations such as the IAI, reflects the alignment of vision between the central government and stakeholders in the health sector.
With structured steps and proper regulatory support, Village Pharmacy is not only the answer to the challenges of access to health services, but also a symbol of the state’s commitment to communities in areas that have been marginalized. Through this program, the government has changed its approach from reactive to proactive, ensuring that every citizen has equal rights and opportunities to obtain proper health services. Therefore, Village Pharmacy is not just a service program, but a reflection of the spirit of equitable development and social justice in the health sector.
)* The author is a contributor to the Indonesian Strategic Information Study Institute (LSISI)
