Opinion Paper Public health policy and political contestation in Indonesia

Cashtri Meher, Fotarisman Zaluchu

Journal of Public Health in Africa | Vol 15, No 1 | a646 | | © 2024 Cashtri Meher, Fotarisman Zaluchu | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 24 May 2024 | Published: 25 July 2024

About the author(s) Cashtri Meher, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
Fotarisman Zaluchu, Department of Social Anthropology, Faculty of Social Science and Political Science, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia

Abstract

Public health issues should be a focal concern for public leaders. A critical moment for articulating intended policies is during elections. At this time, candidates present significant ideas and proposals derived from the evaluation and reflection on the previous administration’s governance. This approach ensures that the proposed programmes are grounded in evidence. In 2024, Indonesia conducted general elections, amid significant public health challenges such as the persistently high prevalence of stunting and poor maternal and child health outcomes. The Prabowo-Gibran, who then won the election, focused their campaign on providing free food and milk. This campaign appears to be unsupported by a comprehensive improvement plan, leading to the impression that public health issues are merely used to enhance electoral appeal.

Keywords

public health; political campaign; election; Indonesia; stunting; women’s health.

Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

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