Jakarta – How can we ensure that health policies truly benefit the public? This question was the focus of the Health Policy Implementation Evaluation Workshop in Districts/Cities, organized by the Health Development Policy Agency (March 10th), involving seven regions from Lampung and Southwest Papua Provinces.
This activity brought together local governments, health policy experts, and the Ministry of Health to share experiences on how health policies are implemented in the field. The seven regions involved were Bandar Lampung City, South Lampung Regency, Metro City, Pringsewu Regency, Sorong City, Sorong Regency, and South Sorong Regency.
During the discussion, the heads of regional health offices outlined various policies they have implemented to address public health challenges in their respective regions, ranging from stunting management, tuberculosis and HIV control, to strengthening public health services at the community health center (Puskesmas) level.
Lupi Trilaksono, Head of the Center for Health System and Resource Policy at the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (BKPK), explained that good health policies go beyond regulatory documents and must be truly applicable in the regions. "Forums like this are important for observing how national policies are implemented in the regions, as well as understanding the challenges faced on the ground," he said.
Palupi from the Ministry of Health's Planning and Budget Bureau echoed this sentiment. She stated that the success of health development depends heavily on the involvement of local governments. "National health indicators can only be achieved if policies are truly implemented at the regional level and address community needs," she explained.
Experience of Lampung and Southwest Papua
Each region has its own unique history and challenges. In Sorong City, the local government highlighted various regulations implemented to strengthen public health services, including maternal-perinatal audits and infectious disease control.
Meanwhile, Sorong Regency presented efforts to accelerate tuberculosis control through the development of regional regulations supporting the tuberculosis elimination program. In South Sorong Regency, the local government presented policies related to HIV/AIDS control and various efforts to strengthen basic health services, including increasing immunization coverage and supporting the malaria elimination program.
In Lampung Province, the discussion also highlighted various efforts undertaken by local governments. Bandar Lampung City highlighted measures to address stunting through the establishment of priority areas and cross-sectoral support. South Lampung Regency presented the integration of various public health programs to accelerate stunting reduction. Metro City is currently updating its environmental health regulations to better align with the latest national health policy. Meanwhile, Pringsewu Regency presented efforts to meet the Minimum Service Standards (SPM) in the health sector and strengthen health services at the community level.
Success Stories
In addition to discussing challenges, this workshop also showcased various good practices from the regions.
South Lampung Regency demonstrated how various health programs can be integrated within a single regional policy framework that supports disease prevention and public health improvement. Meanwhile, Metro City demonstrated initiative in updating environmental health regulations to address urban health challenges, including the increasing risk of non-communicable diseases.
In Southwest Papua, South Sorong Regency has developed an electronic health policy implementation monitoring system linked to Minimum Service Standards indicators. This system helps the local government monitor health program achievements more systematically.
The Key to Government Success
In a workshop discussion, the Ministry of Health's Lead Policy Analysts, Wiendra Waworuntu, Riati Anggraini, and Oscar Primadi, a team of experts, stated that many regions already have regulations supporting priority health programs. However, the success of health policies is determined not only by the existence of regulations but also by the readiness of resources and the region's ability to implement them on the ground.
Challenges that remain frequently encountered include limited healthcare workers, uneven distribution of facilities, and the need to align regional policies with developments in national health policies. Therefore, experts emphasize the importance of regular monitoring and evaluation so that local governments can continuously improve the implementation of health programs and ensure that services truly reach the community.
Community Satisfaction is the Main Goal
The various experiences shared in the workshop demonstrated that the success of a health program is ultimately measured by the benefits it provides to the community. Easily accessible health services, available health workers, and health programs tailored to local needs are crucial factors in increasing public trust and satisfaction. Through this discussion forum, local governments from Lampung and Southwest Papua shared lessons learned on how to improve health services in their respective regions. It is hoped that these experiences will foster health policies and services that are more responsive to community needs. (Author: Hardini Kusumadewi, Editor: Sri Wahyuni and the HDI Working Team)
