Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Budget allocations for the health sector must be raised by 68 percent to Rp80.6 trillion next year to achieve the target of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the health sector, a spokesperson said.

"A rise in budget allocations for the health sector must top the list of priorities to achieve the target of MDGs by 2015 as well as to improve human health development index in poor regions," Coordinator of Civil Society Coalition for State Budget for Welfare Erani Yustika said here on Wednesday.

Budget allocations for the health sector in the revised 2012 state budget stood at Rp48 trillion, accounting for 3.4 percent of the state budget. The figure violated Law No. 36 of 2009 which set budget allocations for the health sector at a minimum of 5 percent of the state budget, she said.

"Admittedly, budget allocations for the health sector grow by an average of 14 percent per year. But the ratio of health budget to the overall state spending has reached an average of 3 percent per year since 2006," she said.

Erani asked the health ministry to be more accurate in channeling deconcentration funds especially for maternal and child nutrition improvement program.

Citing an example, she said West Nusa Tenggara which had the highest infant mortality rate received Rp63.64 billion in funds, while Central Java whose infant mortality rate was three times lower than that of West Nusa Tenggara received Rp92.08 billion, she said.(*)