Policies Of The President, Ministers, And Local Governments Are Not In Sync, COVID-19 Vaccination Is Running Slowly

COVID-19 Vaccination (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Executive Director of the Indonesia Political Institute (IPI) Karyono Wibowo assesses that there is no synergy between the wishes of President Joko Widodo and the performance achievements of his ministers. So, the head of state must go directly to distribute food packages and COVID-19 medicine to residents' homes.

"I have not seen a synergistic chemistry, even I see that there is no similarity, one view, the same platform between the wishes of the president and his assistants," said Karyono to VOI, Friday, July 16.

According to him, in the midst of this alarming pandemic situation, the minister should follow the rhythm, speed or acceleration of handling the pandemic. Both in terms of health and socio-economic impact.

It is made worse by the attitude of the regional head who is slow to respond. Then in every policy there is a discontinuity between the central and regional governments which further slows the process of accelerating the handling of COVID-19.

"For example, the realization of vaccines is far from the target. Then the hospital services, infrastructure, hospital facilities are not sufficient. Covid patients are not handled properly, they are not accommodated, oxygen is scarce in the field. That is the reality," he explained.

Not to mention, Karyono continued, in the midst of the suffering of the people, there was a discourse on independent vaccines driven by Kimia Farma, which incidentally is a state-owned enterprise. There have also been cases of vaccines being traded, even though there have been sanctions.

"Now the discourse on independent vaccines has a correlation with the slowdown in the vaccination program which should have reached the target of tens of millions. The realization is still far from the target, then independent vaccines appear. This means that there is room for people if they want to accelerate the vaccine by paying," said Karyono. .

Karyono suspected that there was an instrument and a large design that deliberately made this vaccine commercialized. Namely the condition of traveling must use a vaccine card.

"Regarding work registration (SRTP) its ok, it's rational in order to succeed Emergency PPKM to reduce mobility. But the requirement for a vaccine certificate is related to the independent vaccine discourse, so people are forced to be led to do independent vaccines because it is needed as a requirement, " he explained.

"Well, this policy I think the president must be firm with his assistants, the ministers because it is not synergistic between the president's will, the president's vision and existing policies," added Karyono.

The President, he continued, has repeatedly said that vaccines are free, cannot be traded, and the people have witnessed it all. Then the space was even opened for independent vaccines.

"Well, I think this policy needs to be evaluated if it needs to be canceled," he said.

Karyono reminded that acceleration is needed to create a system for how assistants to the president, regional heads together carry out vaccinations.

"It's not about creating a system to lead people to self-administer vaccines for a fee. What is needed is the acceleration of vaccine availability and the acceleration of administering the vaccine itself, free of charge," said Karyono.

It is known, President Jokowi finally officially canceled the Paid Vaccine or Mutual Cooperation vaccine which was originally to be distributed through Kimia Farma. This decision was taken after Jokowi received input and responses from the public.