LANGKAT | INDATANEWS.COM - North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution has presented two leading innovations by the provincial government at the 2026 Innovative Government Award (IGA). The initiatives focus on the independent management of sports facilities valued at 3.1 trillion rupiah and more efficient medicine use at Medan's Haji Hospital.
Both programmes aim to strengthen the autonomy of regional asset management while improving the efficiency of expenditure on healthcare services. Bobby presented the innovations online from Langkat Regency on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. The presentation formed part of the regional government leaders' session at the
IGA 2026 awards.
The first innovation centres on the independent management of assets belonging to North Sumatra's Youth and Sports Office (Dispora) through a Regional Public Service Agency (Badan Layanan Umum Daerah, BLUD). The second initiative seeks to improve the use and procurement of medicines at Haji Hospital in Medan, reducing costs without compromising the quality of healthcare provided to the public.
Independent Management of Sports Facilities Worth 3.1 Trillion Rupiah
Bobby explained that North Sumatra's Youth and Sports Office holds assets valued at 3.1 trillion rupiah. A substantial proportion of these assets came from hosting the 2024 National Sports Week (Pekan Olahraga Nasional, PON). The provincial government wants to make better use of these facilities so that their operating and maintenance costs do not remain dependent on the regional budget.
North Sumatra's provincial government currently allocates approximately 15 billion rupiah annually for the maintenance and operation of various sports facilities. These expenses have been a major reason for introducing a more independent management model.
"Every year, we spend around 15 billion rupiah on the maintenance and operation of our sports facilities. Through the BLUD model, our goal is for the Youth and Sports Office to manage these facilities independently by 2029," Bobby Nasution said.
Under the BLUD model, North Sumatra's Youth and Sports Office is expected to manage the facilities more flexibly while generating its own revenue to finance ongoing operations. This would ensure that sports venues built for PON 2024 continue to be used optimally after the national sporting event has ended.
The target of achieving independence by 2029 is a key component of the innovation. The provincial government wants to ensure that the sports facilities not only represent substantial investment but also deliver long-term benefits to the public and the sporting community in North Sumatra.
More targeted management is also expected to help preserve the condition of the facilities and ensure their continued usability. At the same time, the initiative aims to promote the productive use of regional assets and reduce the burden on public finances from regular maintenance costs.
INDEPENDENT MANAGEMENT OF SPORTS FACILITIES: Bobby Nasution explains the North Sumatra Youth and Sports Office's target of independently managing sports facilities worth 3.1 trillion rupiah under the BLUD model by 2029. (PHOTO: YT Hariono)
Haji Hospital in Medan Tightens Medicine Procurement
The second innovation presented by Bobby concerns operational efficiency at Haji Hospital in Medan, particularly the use and procurement of medicines.
Bobby believes that pharmaceutical expenditure is among the largest cost components of hospital operations. However, some hospitals continue to face problems with excessive medicine stocks, some of which have passed their expiry dates. This can lead to a waste of public funds while undermining the efficiency of stock management.
To address the issue, the North Sumatra provincial government is promoting stricter procurement policies based on actual patient needs. Hospitals must accurately identify the medicines most frequently required by the public to prevent over-purchasing and improve stock control.
"We are tightening medicine procurement guidelines, identifying in detail which medicines are most urgently needed by the public, and establishing rules to ensure the most efficient use of medicines without compromising the quality of healthcare,"
Bobby Nasution said.
This approach treats efficiency as an integral part of improving healthcare services. Hospitals must not only reduce costs but also ensure that patients receive the medicines they need and continue to have access to high-quality care.
Detailed assessments of medicine requirements are an important step towards improving procurement planning. By aligning purchases with the actual needs of the public, hospitals can reduce the risk of excessive stock levels and waste caused by expired medicines.
The innovation is also expected to help hospitals use their budgets more effectively. Targeted medicine use and needs-based procurement are essential elements of efforts to ensure sustainable healthcare services for the public.
MORE EFFICIENT MEDICINE PROCUREMENT AT HAJI HOSPITAL MEDAN:
Bobby Nasution outlines efforts to align medicine procurement more closely with public needs and reduce waste without compromising the quality of healthcare services. (PHOTO: YT Hariono)
North Sumatra Competes Against Nine Other Regions
Prof. Diah Natalisa, a member of the
IGA 2026 judging panel, praised North Sumatra for being nominated for the award. The province is among the finalists competing against nine other regions for the
IGA 2026 accolade.
"We are very proud that North Sumatra has been nominated and has become one of the finalists in IGA 2026," Diah said before asking two questions about the innovations presented by Bobby Nasution.
The presentation session gives finalists an opportunity to explain the innovations they have developed, including their objectives, benefits and impact on governance and public services.
During the event, Bobby outlined North Sumatra's approach to regional asset management and reducing hospital operating costs. Both innovations demonstrate the regional government's efforts to improve governance through more efficient public spending and better use of existing resources.
The presentation session for regional government leaders, held as part of the
IGA 2026 awards, was also attended by Raden Gani Muhammad, acting head of the Agency for Regional Development Strategies and Domestic Policy (BSKDN).
Several regents, mayors and governors nominated for IGA 2026 also attended the event. The judging panel comprised representatives from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Ombudsman, the Ministry of Home Affairs and academic experts.
North Sumatra's participation in the final round of
IGA 2026 provides an opportunity to demonstrate that innovation in public administration is not limited to the adoption of technology. It also encompasses improved asset management, more efficient spending and higher-quality public services.
Through these two innovations, the North Sumatra provincial government aims to ensure that its sports facilities deliver long-term benefits and that medicine management in hospitals becomes more targeted. Both initiatives form part of efforts to establish more effective governance that is increasingly responsive to the needs of the public. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala