Issues of service quality and alleged malpractice in regional healthcare facilities are currently under intense public scrutiny. Several cases that have come to public attention include the death of a toddler after receiving sedation in preparation for a CT scan at Prambanan Regional Hospital, and the death of a 45-year-old patient after dialysis at Jombang Regional Hospital, although the Jombang hospital has denied this and claimed the procedure was in accordance with medical procedures. Furthermore, allegations of violations of medical procedures against a heart patient at Abdul Wahab Sjahranie Regional Hospital (Samarinda) and the death of an infant following steam therapy at Ajibarang Regional Hospital (Banyumas) have also drawn attention.
Regarding the handling and vigilance of infectious diseases, the Ministry of Health has taken various anticipatory and responsive measures to protect the public. Following the WHO's warning regarding the development of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the government tightened monitoring of arrivals, although the risk of this virus spreading to Indonesia was still considered low. On the other hand, concerns regarding Hantavirus were successfully allayed after a foreign national patient at the Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital was declared cured and allowed to go home, with assurance that there was no transmission to others. The Ministry of Health also paid special attention to the viral case of a measles patient who dared to attend the F4 reunion concert, which was then used as an educational opportunity for the wider community about the importance of ethics and responsibility when suffering from an infectious disease in public spaces.
In terms of preventive policies and expanding healthcare access, the Ministry of Health continues to strive to improve the quality of life of the community through chronic disease management and tobacco control. To address the problem of chronic liver disease, which affects approximately 70 million people, the Ministry of Health is increasingly expanding early screening services and aims to make liver transplant services available evenly in 34 provinces. Meanwhile, to provide health protection for children and adolescents, the #SehatTanpaRokok campaign continues to be promoted extensively, including the idea of incorporating education on the dangers of smoking into the formal curriculum. This campaign remains strong amidst controversy and opposition from approximately 6.000 tobacco workers to the regulation on standardizing plain, unbranded cigarette packaging due to concerns about the threat of layoffs.
