August 19, 2025 | 08:01 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The free nutritious meal program (MBG) is one of the initiatives funded through the health budget. The Ministry of Finance has allocated Rp24.7 trillion for MBG from the total health budget of Rp244 trillion.
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said that the MBG allocation from the health budget is intended for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and toddlers.
“Apart from education, MBG also receives funding from the health sector, and there are 7.4 million beneficiaries,” Sri said during the presentation of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (RAPBN) 2026 financial notes on Friday, August 15, 2025.
Previously, the MBG program received Rp335 trillion, or 44.2 percent of the total education budget of Rp757.8 trillion. This funding is designated to provide meals for 82.9 million beneficiaries through 30,000 kitchens or Nutritious Meal Fulfillment Units (SPPGs).
According to the press conference data, the total health budget of Rp244 trillion is divided into two categories: Rp123.3 trillion for health services and Rp72.1 trillion for facilities and infrastructure.
Sri Mulyani outlined the use of funds under public health services. Rp 69 trillion will go toward health insurance premium assistance for non-wage workers, Rp24.7 trillion for the MBG program, and Rp13.3 trillion for health insurance for police and military personnel.
In addition, Rp8.7 trillion is allocated for immunization vaccines and drug procurement, Rp2 trillion for tuberculosis treatment, Rp2.6 trillion for free health check-ups for 130.3 million people, and Rp2.9 trillion from village funds for stunting prevention and early childhood development (HPK) programs.
From the facilities and infrastructure allocation, Rp2.7 trillion is designated for hospital revitalization, Rp 16.3 trillion for operational assistance to hospitals and community health centers, Rp41.7 trillion for general allocation funds (DAU) to support community health services, and Rp0.3 trillion for food, cosmetics, and supplement sample inspections.
The budget also includes Rp0.2 trillion for doctor education programs and Rp10.9 trillion for hospital assistance for the Ministry of Defense, Police, and the Attorney General’s Office.
Head of the National Nutrition Body, Dadan Hindayana, explained that 75 percent of the Rp335 trillion MBG budget will go toward nutritious meal interventions.
“For the interventions alone, we will spend Rp1.2 trillion per day, or about Rp25 trillion per month. The assumption is that the beneficiaries include 82.9 million people,” Dadan said when met at the Antara Heritage Center, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
Dadan added that the government is targeting 82.9 million MBG beneficiaries by the end of this year. This figure is based on the assumption that the program will serve beneficiaries for 20 to 21 days each month throughout the year.
He also emphasized that the MBG budget does not rely solely on education funds. “The MBG program actually falls under two functions, health and education. So, of the Rp335 trillion, around Rp24 to 27 trillion comes from the health sector. It is not entirely from the education budget alone,” he said.
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