en.malanginspirasi.com – The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) will continue to increase support for mental health services in 2026 by increasing the budget for mental health medications procurement.
This is particularly for people with schizophrenia.
The Director of Health Services for Vulnerable Groups at the Ministry of Health, Imran Pambudi, stated that the budget increase is part of the government’s efforts to expand access to treatment for people with mental disorders (ODGJ).
“This year, thank God, we can provide mental health medications for primary care. The increase is quite significant. Last year and the year before, it was around IDR 11 billion. This year, we received a budget for the provision or procurement of mental health medications of around IDR 50 billion. So, it’s almost a fivefold increase,” said Imran Pambudi in the World Mental Health Day 2026 Webinar.
He explained about the choice of the theme of World Mental Health Day 2026, “Together Against Stigma, Improving Early Detection and Expanding Access to Schizophrenia Treatment”.
The reason was because many people with schizophrenia still face stigma and discrimination in society.
According to Imran, schizophrenia is not just a medical issue, but also a social and humanitarian issue.
Many people with mental illness experience social rejection, delaying access to adequate healthcare.
“The stigma that exists in society often makes individuals with schizophrenia and their families reluctant to seek help. Yet, early detection and appropriate treatment can significantly improve the quality of life for people with schizophrenia,” he said.
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The Ministry of Health recorded that nearly 130,000 ODGJ received healthcare services in the first semester.
However, this figure represents only about 25 percent of the estimated total cases in Indonesia.
To strengthen mental health services, the government is also increasing the number of community health centers (Puskesmas) capable of treating mental disorders to around 6,000.
Furthermore, he is promoting a referral system and the provision of psychotropic medications at satellite pharmacies to ensure continuous patient treatment after discharge.
“We also conveyed to the Social Security Agency (BPJS) that the referral system requires satellite pharmacies to also provide psychotropic medications. This ensures that patients with ODGJ who return to or have completed their treatment at the hospital receive continuous treatment,” he explained.
High Number of Shackling Cases
On that occasion, Imran also highlighted the persistently high number of shackling cases in Indonesia.
He stated that the number of shackling cases reported last year reached around 2,200, while by March 2026, the number had reached around 1,200.
According to him, shackling occurs because people with mental disorders (ODGJ) do not have access to adequate treatment, and stigma and rejection persist from society and their families.
“These shackling cases, or people being shackled, occur because people with mental disorders (ODGJ) do not have access to treatment, and society or their families cannot accept it,” said Imran.
Therefore, the Ministry of Health is inviting all elements of society to work together to build a safe, supportive, and stigma-free environment for people with mental disorders.
“Mental health is a shared responsibility, and every individual deserves an equal opportunity to live a healthy, dignified life, and be accepted in their community,” said the Director of Health Services for Vulnerable Groups at the Ministry of Health.
