Minister Of Health Enters Cabinet Reshuffle Radar After Being Summoned To The Palace, Communication Expert: Don't Make A Polemic Often

Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin. (Between)

JAKARTA - Communications science practitioner, Dr. Algooth Putranto, assessed that the policy made by the Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin often caused polemics. It would be natural if then the Minister of Health, who is an alumni of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), was rumored to be on the reshuffle radar after meeting President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace.

"When you become a public official, the style of communication must be considered. Moreover, it is related to policies that have a direct impact on the ecosystem and society in general. I see that the reshuffle (Menkes) rumors are normal," Algooth said in an interview with the media in Jakarta, Thursday 5/ May.

The day before the Minister of Health met President Prabowo. He said that the reshuffle was actually the full right of the president. Meanwhile, on the commemoration of National Awakening Day at the FKUI Hall, Salemba, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the Faculty of Medicine Alumni Association, University of Indonesia (FKUI) submitted several lawsuits.

One of his lawsuits is to ask Budi Gunadi Sadikin to be removed from his position as Minister of Health. The FKUI alumni Association urged the government to re-evaluate health policies that were not prorakyat but pro-interest for a moment. The lawsuit was submitted in the aftermath of various frictions that occurred between medical education institutions and the Ministry of Health.

Algooth also noted a number of polemics that had been created by the Minister of Health. Among them are related to the statement that men wearing 33 jeans have the potential to die more quickly because they are already obese which is associated with a higher risk of death. Furthermore, a statement that says people with a salary of Rp. 15 million have better intelligence and health than a salary of Rp. 5 million.

Such communication is really very risky. It seems that the President must consider his ministers who often cause noise and polemics," said Algooth.

Algooth also highlighted the background of Budi Gunadi Sadikin who did not come from medical science. Budi Gunadi Sadikin is a graduate of the Nuclear Physics Department of the Bandung Institute of Technology who previously served as Deputy Minister of BUMN. Budi Gunadi Sadikin was appointed by President Joko Widodo as Minister of Health replacing Terawan Agus Putranto.

His track record is indeed quite far from the medical world. This means that if President Prabowo wants to be able to realize Asta Cita related to improving the quality of public health, the person who should lead the world of health is a person who really understands his knowledge and also his people," he said.