Jakarta, Sept. 8 -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said village-based cooperatives will play a central role in delivering essential goods and services, from affordable medicine to cooking gas, directly to communities.

Speaking in Jakarta on Monday, Prabowo said the government plans to establish pharmacies in rural areas through village cooperatives, which will distribute generic medicines directly from manufacturers.

"We want these medicines to be more affordable, and with our system, those covered by Social Security Agency (BPJS) can also receive them for free," he said.

"Importantly, they won't have to travel far. The village will have the facilities," he added.

Beyond medicine, the cooperatives will distribute subsidized LPG...