COVID-19 Emergency Status Revoked, Government Focuses On Strengthening The National Health System

Main Expert Staff Of The Presidential Staff Office (KSP), Brian Sri Prahastuti (Special)

After the revocation of the COVID-19 emergency status or Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) last week, the government is currently focusing on strengthening the national health system.

The Chief Expert of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), Brian Sri Prahastuti, said this means that the government guarantees the vigilance and preparedness of the national health system to face the threat of a pandemic in the future.

The revocation of the status of PHEIC COVID-19 by WHO means that the response of WHO member countries to COVID-19 no longer follows a response in an emergency situation. But the state's response must be directed at strengthening a long-term and systemic health system covering 6 components of the health subsystem according to WHO, "said Brian, Tuesday, May 9.

According to WHO, 6 components of the health subsystem include health efforts, health financing, health human resources, drugs and medical supplies, health information, and health governance.

Brian added that the government through the Ministry of Health is in the process of carrying out a health transformation to strengthen the national health system previously regulated in Perpres No 72 of 2012.

"This transformation is needed, because there is a change in health needs in the digital era. In addition, advances in knowledge in the field of medicine and Indonesia's experience in dealing with the COVID pandemic make this transformation inevitable," he added.

This health policy expert also said the Indonesian government was optimistic about the national health transformation program. The reason is, Indonesia was able to show extraordinary work and a quick response during the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even the handling of the pandemic in Indonesia received appreciation from the United Nations (UN) which was conveyed to The 7th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDR) in May 2022 last year.

"The COVID-19 response in Indonesia from the start has taken a comprehensive approach because apart from responding in the health sector, the government is also thinking about social protection and the community's economy," said Brian.

KSP itself was actively involved in handling COVID-19 even before the task force was formed. One of them is through the operation of the PINTER program (integrated information center) and the preparation of 6 basic health protocols at the community level, health facilities, schools, offices/places of work, public transportation and public places such as airports.