Skip to main content
ICAS 13 - 2024 Main banner
Programme Book
Back
Session Type: Roundtable

Theme: 10. Healing Bodies: Medicine, Well-being, Sport

Best Practices Implementation of Tobacco Control in East Java, Indonesia

Monday, July 29, 2024
14:00 – 18:00 (GMT+7)
Location: Post Graduate School Building, P1.03

Indonesia is facing a situation of double burdens of health problems that must be addressed simultaneously. On one side, there is an increase in cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which can be attributed to improved health services and increased life expectancy. Risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) include unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use, obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, genetics, stress, environmental factors, and aging. Among all of the risk factors, smoking tobacco is still becoming a concerning issue, especially in East Java Province, Indonesia. The national Basic Health Research in 2013 shows the proportion of daily active smokers among people aged ≥10 years was 33.4 percent, which then decreased in the national Basic Health Research in 2018, namely to 24.3%. However, current conditions in Indonesia show that the use of tobacco products is still quite high. There are 60.8 million adult men and 3.7 million adult women who smoke.
To overcome the negative impacts of cigarette smoke, Indonesian government has made various integrated and multi-sector efforts to support the implementation of tobacco control in Indonesia using the penta-helix or multi-stakeholder concept where there is collaboration between government, academics, society or community, and the media in creating a healthy and prosperous both at national and regional levels. The Indonesian government has implemented Smoking-Free Area (SFA) regulations based on Law number 17 of 2023 concerning Health which requires Regional Governments to form SFA.

There are several challenges in implementing the SFA regulations. According to data from the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, there are 754 registered cigarette factories in the East Java region. Most of these industrial locations to some extent influence the initiation of SFA regulations. This is a concern and has an impact on the implementation of regulations regarding SFA which should be mandatory in all regions. Besides that, 3 of 38 regencies/cities in East Java, still don’t have any law product regulating SFA, namely Bojonegoro Regency, Pasuruan Regency, Kediri Regency. Based on the experience of assisting Regencies/Cities in East Java in making regulations and implementing regulations related to Smoke Free Area (SFA), there are many challenges and obstacles that have resulted in the inability to create or implement regulations. This is influenced by various factors, both social, economic, cultural and sometimes related to local government policies.

In addition to implementing SFA regulations, collaboration built by the Indonesian Government has resulted in the development of information technology that supports tobacco control in Indonesia. Health transformation including integration and development of health data systems, integration and development of health application systems, and development of a health technology ecosystem. Meanwhile, risk factors for diseases caused by smoking need to be monitored through public health programs and surveillance. Efforts made include monitoring and prevention starting from the lowest level at integrated service posts (Posbindu) to the basic service level through smoking cessation clinics. This effort will be more effective and optimal if it is collaborated with health information and technology.
Therefore, this round table discussion is a necessity to face various challenges and obstacles in implementing tobacco control in all regions in Indonesia and other countries in Southeast countries. The objectives are to build a deeper understanding of the principles and urgency of tobacco control and share experiences from other regions that have been successful in implementing programs. The things that can be learned together are related to local challenges, best practices from other regions, increased collaboration and awareness of the importance of tobacco control issues and the integrated health information system in Indonesia and other countries. Thus, this round table discussion is an important step in maintaining public health and creating a better environment throughout Indonesia, while building a strong collaborative network to deal with problems related to tobacco consumption.