Source: Indonesia Daily; Jakarta, Indonesia; Thursday, March 11, 2004

In support of decentralization, the Ministry of Health has received a grant from USAID/SOAG through Management Sciences for Health (MSH) in the form of technical assistance. The technical assistance is given to develop the competence of human resources in districts/municipalities in a bid to improve the performance of the implementation of obligatory functions and minimum service standards in the health sector in 15 districts/municipalities.

Attended by more than 100 participants, a National Workshop on the Performance Assessment and Improvement Process in support of the Implementation of obligatory functions and minimum service standards was opened by the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. Achmad Sujudi¹, at the JW Mariott Hotel in Jakarta (March 9).

The 15 focus districts/municipalities that receive the technical assistance include among others West Lombok and East Lombok, Musi Rawas, Lahat, Lubuk Linggau, Sambas, Cianjur, and Pagar Alam. According to the Director of Health Research and Development Institute, Dr. Dini Latief MSc, pursuant to Law No. 22/1999 on Local Governance and Law No. 25/1999 on Fiscal Balance between the Central and Local Governments, the central government has transferred some of its authority to deliver public services to local governments.

She also said that transferring regional autonomy to districts/municipalities would also mean transferring broad authority. In addition, the decentralized financial system which allocates fund to districts/municipalities through General Allocation Fund is not binding them to implement their functions. Therefore, in order to ensure that local governments will not neglect basic services to the community, the central government requires them to implement obligatory functions to protect the constitutional rights of an individual and the community.

¹ Not accurate, should be the Secretary General, Dr. Dadi Argadireja

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