Indonesia’s military is stepping into the pharmaceutical arena. As part of a new deal, army, navy, and air force labs, formerly limited to treating soldiers, will begin producing medicines for public distribution starting October. The goal is to cut drug prices in half and extend access throughout rural villages.
Why This Shift?
Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin says the military’s involvement aims to slash healthcare costs and clamp down on illegal drugs flooding the market. With medicines produced within government facilities, the plan is to undercut “pharma mafia” actors and ensure affordability.
Distribution Through Cooperatives
The new medicines will not be sold in private pharmacies. Instead, they will be distributed through 80,000 state-backed cooperatives. These co-ops, recently launched by President Prabowo Subianto, serve multiple functions such as offering loans, basic foods, and now healthcare services. The idea is to bypass middlemen and stimulate local economies.
Military in Civilian Roles: A Pattern
This move is part of a broader expansion. Since Prabowo, a former defence minister and elite forces commander, took office last year, he has increasingly placed the military in civilian projects. The armed forces now run the free school meals program and recently saw laws revised in March allowing more soldiers to occupy civilian roles. That change has sparked protests from students and activists.
Warnings of Authoritarian Drift
Critics are raising red flags. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International Indonesia, argue that mixing military duties with civilian functions violates existing law. Many see it as a troubling sign of rising authoritarianism, recalling the Suharto era when the military held unchecked power.
Hospitals in Conflict Zones
The pharmaceutical initiative is only the beginning. Defence Minister Sjafrie has also signed a deal with the health ministry to build hospitals in conflict-prone areas such as Papua. These will be staffed by military doctors and nurses, aiming to stabilize regions long affected by insurgencies.
What This Really Means
Improved access and lower costs mean rural and underprivileged communities could finally get cheaper, regulated medicines.
But lines are blurring. The military’s reach is now overlapping with civilian life, touching food, healthcare, and even governance.
It signals a shift. What started as logistical support under Prabowo is becoming direct policy control, causing concern among democracy advocates.
There’s also the risk of backsliding. After 1998, Indonesia worked hard to curb military dominance. Moves like these threaten that progress.
Bottom Line
Using military infrastructure to improve healthcare is not a bad idea on its own. But in the current context, it adds to growing military influence in civilian spheres. That raises serious questions about democratic checks and long-term accountability.
If mass production begins in October and co-op distribution runs smoothly, this could genuinely improve lives, especially in underserved areas. But if this becomes a template, military in charge of schools, food, healthcare, and more, it signals a shift away from civilian control. That deserves close scrutiny.
