Call for President Jokowi to Enact The Draft of Government Regulation on Health: The Coalition of Public Health Observers Highlights Four Key Substantive Points

Jakarta, 18th July 2024 – Nearly a year after the Health Law was officially enacted, the government has yet to ratify the draft of Government Regulations pertaining to  the implementation of Omnibus Health Law. The drafting of the Government Regulation on Health as a derivative regulation must be completed no later than one year after the Law No. 17/2023 concerning Health was signed by President Joko Widodo on August 8, 2023.

In May 2024, the draft was finalized and agreed upon by 28 ministries and related state institutions. At that time, the Head of the Tobacco Control Task Force at the Ministry of Health, Benget Saragih, stated that the ratification of the Government Regulation on Health was only a matter of time as it was already in the President’s hand.

"Delays in ratifying the Government Regulation on Health can hinder the implementation of technical regulations that are essential for improving public health standards. These include restrictions on electronic cigarettes; labeling on high sugar, salt, and fat ready-to-eat foods’ packaging; funding for community health workers; and health services for sexual violence victims; all of which cannot be implemented without the Government Regulation on Health," said Diah Saminarsih, Founder and CEO of the Center for Indonesia’s Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI), on Thursday, 18th July 2024.

Joined The Coalition of Public Health Observers, CISDI along with the Indonesian Consumers Protection Foundation (YLKI), The City Residents Forum (FAKTA), Indonesian Society for Health Promoter and Educator (PPPKMI), and the 1000 Days Fund are urging the government to ratify the draft of Government Regulation on Health immediately. 

The Coalition also sent a Joint Letter of Support for the Ratification of the draft of Government Regulation on Health to President Jokowi on 1st July 2024. Yet, until this press release was disseminated, the Coalition had not received any response from the President.

In addition to the uncertainty of the ratification time, the Coalition highlighted the lack of transparency and public participation in the policymaking process of the Government Regulation on Health. "The discussion process has been closed and slow, increasing the risk of industry intervention with conflicts of interest that could weaken regulations supporting public health," said Diah.

The call for the ratification of the Government Regulation on Health also came from the Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) during a working meeting with the Ministry of Health on Monday, 8th July 2024. Legislator Irma Suryani Chaniago stated the government must complete all derivative regulations of the Health Law before 8th August 2024. These derivative regulations include government regulations, presidential regulations, health minister regulations, and other technical regulations.

In a working meeting that was broadcasted live on the Commission IX’s YouTube channel, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin mentioned President Jokowi would sign the draft of Government Regulation on Health within the week. The chairman and members of Commission IX not only highlighted the remaining time for the ratification of the draft, but also the exclusive process. Even the Commission IX has not received any final draft of the Government Regulation on Health during its drafting. Yet, the policymaking process of all derivative regulations of the Health Law must also inform the Commission IX.

Since the public hearing held on September 18-22, 2023, the drafting of Government Regulation on Health has been closed to public oversight, making it undetermined whether it has accommodated public aspirations.

From the 2023 Indonesia Health Survey, Diah revealed that more than 50 percent of smokers in Indonesia started smoking at an early age (school-aged), and 29 percent of Indonesians over the age of 15 already suffer from hypertension due to consuming processed foods high in sugar, salt, and fat. "The Government Regulation on Health regulating tobacco products and the consumption of high sugar, salt, and fat ready-to-eat foods becomes crucial to control the public's consumption of these substances," said Diah.

The Secretary-General of the PPPKMI, Hario Megatsari, pointed out the significance  of control functions within the Government Regulation on Health. "This is the legal commitment regarding tobacco product control that we have been waiting for. Moreover, this regulation will involve policymakers from the national to regional levels," said Hario.

The Chairman of YLKI, Tulus Abadi, stated that the Government Regulation on Health is a significant step forward for Indonesia's health sector. "From the perspective of public protection and health, we urge the government to immediately ratify the Government Regulation on Health as one of the instruments for controlling non-communicable diseases, whose prevalence is increasing significantly, such as cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes mellitus."

Echoing YLKI, Tubagus Haryo Karbyanto, Secretary-General of The City Residents Forum (FAKTA), expressed his support and urged President Jokowi to ratify the draft. "For healthcare services, public welfare, tobacco control, and effective quality of life improvement," said Tubagus.

dr. Rindang Asmara, MPH., Chief Operating Officer of the 1000 Days Fund, supports the Government Regulation on Health content, which is also important for community health workers and stunting alleviation. "The funding and incentive mechanisms regulated in the Government Regulation will significantly impact the welfare of community health workers. They play a crucial role in stunting alleviation through education, nutritional monitoring, and early intervention," said dr. Rindang.

Considering the exclusive drafting process, which lacks transparency and public participation, the Coalition demands that the following key points be included in the draft of Government Regulation on Health:

1. Control of tobacco products: Prohibiting the advertisement, promotion, and sale of tobacco products in all media and around educational institutions and children's spaces to prevent unwanted consumption by children and vulnerable groups.

2. Control of high sugar, salt, and fat ready-to-eat foods consumption: Regulating high processed food products through excise, labeling, advertising restrictions, and control in educational environments to prevent the occurrence of non-communicable diseases and improve public health quality.

3. Integration of primary health services and community health workers: Ensure the funding sourced from government budgets, such as the Village Fund and Regional Budget, to foster primary health service innovations through strengthening community health workers, which is crucial for handling stunting.

4. Sexual reproductive health: Integrating health services for sexual violence victims following the Sexual Violence Crime Law (TPKS) without a police report and ensuring safe abortion services to reduce maternal mortality rates and ensure continuous access to sexual reproductive health services.

The Coalition demands a transparent and inclusive process in drafting the Government Regulation on Health and urges President Jokowi to ratify it before August 8, 2024, to achieve the Vision of Golden Indonesia 2045. 

By ratifying the draft of the Government Regulation on Health promptly, President Jokowi will demonstrate his commitment to protecting the public's health rights, without industry’s interference.

Download the Letter of Support Urging the Enactment of the Draft Government Regulation on Health here.

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The Coalition of Public Health Observers 

- Center for Indonesia’s Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI)

- The Indonesian Consumers Protection Foundation (YLKI)

- The City Residents Forum (FAKTA)

- Indonesian Society for Health Promotion and Education (PPPKMI)

- 1000 Days Fund

For further information:

Amru Sebayang  

Senior Media Officer, CISDI  

+62 877 8273 4584  

Email: media@cisdi.org  

www.cisdi.org