Haste Urged With New Health Warnings

Several medical and health organizations have urged Indonesia’s Health Ministry to accelerate its cigarette package graphic health warning revisions to Government Regulation No 109/2012. The groups noted that the draft revision began in May 2018 and should have been completed in a year’s time. The Coordinating Human Development and Cultural Affairs Ministry has also asked the ministry to review the regulations on online cigarette advertising and controlling vapor product consumption.

Tubagus Haryo Karbyanto of the National Commission on Tobacco Control (NCTC) said, “The slow revision process shows the government’s lack of awareness about the urgency of controlling high cigarette consumption in Indonesia. The Health Minister should immediately complete his homework.”

Aru Sudoyo of the Indonesian Cancer Foundation noted the nation’s high incidence of lung cancer among men (at 19.4 cases per 100,000), whole Indonesian Teachers Association chairman Unifah Rosidi said, “The Health Ministry does not seem to take the situation seriously while our children have very [poor knowledge] on the dangers of smoking.” Indonesian Heart Foundation chairman Esti Nurjadin said that the foundation had sent a letter urging President Joko Widodo to push for the revised regulation.