Policymaking and the role of government in promoting public health during Covid-19 in Indonesia?

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/86000188132

Policymaking and the Role of Government in Promoting Public Health during Covid-19 in Indonesia?
Authors: Abdillah Abdillah; Ida Widianingsih; Rd Ahmad Buchari; Heru Nurasa — Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran.

This article examines Indonesia’s government role in promoting public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the critical link between policymaking and population health outcomes. The study highlights that the global pandemic has significantly worsened inadequate physical activity, which directly impacts public health. As such, government policies are pivotal in encouraging healthier behaviors and sustaining physical activity throughout periods of restricted mobility.

The research underscores the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration, involving public and health authorities, influencers, and government institutions, to deliver effective public education campaigns. For the Indonesian context, strategies to promote physical activity among children include home-based physical activity programs, online physical education classes, and outdoor activities with strict adherence to social distancing guidelines.

By providing these recommendations, the article offers a framework not only for emergency response but also for embedding sustainable healthy behaviors into society. These insights align strongly with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)—especially in addressing non-communicable disease prevention—and reinforce SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by fostering transparent, inclusive, and collaborative governance.

📑 Journal Information

Source title: Journal of Public Health
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Document type: Article
DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdae184
EID (Scopus): 2-s2.0-86000188132
Publication date: 1 March 2025 (Vol. 47, Issue 1, pp. e206–e207)
ISSN: 1741-3842
CODEN: JPHOC
Authors & Affiliations:
- Abdillah Abdillah — Graduate Program in Administrative Science, Universitas Padjadjaran
- Ida Widianingsih — Center for Decentralization & Participatory Development Research; Department of Public Administration, Universitas Padjadjaran
- Rd Ahmad Buchari — Center for Decentralization & Participatory Development Research; Department of Public Administration, Universitas Padjadjaran