On July 1, 1965, the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) at the Universitas Indonesia (UI) was officially established as an integral part of the university. Today, on July 1, 2024, the Faculty of Public Health at the University of Indonesia (FPH UI) celebrates its 59th anniversary, marking its long journey in contributing to the development of public health science in Indonesia. Over nearly six decades, FPH UI has continuously evolved into a provider of public health education, offering Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programs, with 12 research centers, 7 departments, and 2 study groups. In line with the demands of the times and inevitable changes, and as the oldest faculty in the field of public health, FPH UI continues to improve and evaluate itself to remain at the forefront of public health science.
The 59th anniversary celebration of FPH UI was held festively at the A Hall of FPH UI, with the theme “Towards Evidence-Based and Precision Public Health.” In the future, the challenges for FPH UI to maintain its excellence, both nationally and internationally, will not be easy. “In line with the development of the 4.0 industrial revolution and the 5.0 societal revolution, characterized by the close integration of human expertise and creativity with machine intelligence, public health, which plays a key role in Health Transformation, especially in the promotive and preventive aspects, must also solidify its direction towards evidence-based and precision public health to maintain its excellence,” said the Dean of FPH UI, Prof. dr. Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, M.S., D.Sc.
“By utilizing new technologies such as genomics, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and quantum computing, this approach can guide the formulation of more robust public health policies and programs based on more accurate scientific research evidence, using big data at the individual level within large populations. Therefore, in line with UI’s vision, the development of networks and synergetic collaborations between FPH UI and other universities, healthcare institutions/facilities, science and technology organizations, as well as with the industry, both nationally and internationally, becomes an inevitability,” added the Dean of FPH UI.
As part of the 59th anniversary celebrations, an academic oration on the topic “Barriers to Evidence-Based Policy in Public Health” was delivered by Dr. Hasbullah Thabrany, M.P.H., Dr.PH.
Dr. Hasbullah Thabrany, currently the Chief of Party for the USAID Health Financing Activity project supporting the Ministry of Health, is a former Dean of FPH UI from 2004 to 2008 and the former Chair of the Center for Health Economics and Policy at UI. Dr. Hasbullah discussed various challenges in the implementation of evidence-based health policies. He highlighted the difficulties faced in integrating scientific research findings into effective health policies. Based on his experience, particularly in publishing a book on the National Health Insurance (JKN) and conducting in-depth research since its implementation in 2014, Dr. Hasbullah explained the role of data in achieving social justice and the protective function of JKN, as well as the impact of health expenditure on poverty. In his oration, Dr. Hasbullah emphasized the importance of an evidence-based approach to improve health systems and achieve equity in healthcare services.
The oration began with a historical reflection on scientific decision-making, which, according to Dr. Hasbullah, began with the selection of Prophet Adam to govern the earth, where his territorial knowledge surpassed that of the angels. Dr. Hasbullah also mentioned the rational proof efforts of Prophet Ibrahim, who used a factual approach to confront idols, and Prophet Muhammad’s emphasis on the importance of reading and writing as the foundation for the development of knowledge. Through this presentation, Dr. Hasbullah illustrated that evidence-based decision-making has been part of humanity’s intellectual heritage since ancient times.
Dr. Hasbullah then turned his attention to the contemporary reality of health as a fundamental human right. He quoted the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that “health is a fundamental human right,” and evaluated Indonesia’s constitutional journey in affirming the right to health. Although the 1949 RIS Constitution and the Temporary Constitution had included the right to health, the decree reverting to the 1945 Constitution (original) had removed this right. It was only in the Second Amendment of the 1945 Constitution in 1999 that the right to health services was explicitly recognized, and it was further strengthened in the Fourth Amendment in 2022, which states that the state is responsible for providing adequate healthcare services. “The implementation of national health policies needs to follow an evidence-based policy approach to ensure that this right to health can be realized effectively and fairly,” said Dr. Hasbullah.
Concluding his oration, Dr. Hasbullah evaluated Indonesia’s position in the global and regional context. He noted that many countries in Asia have succeeded in improving the quality of their healthcare systems and are even ranked among the best in the world. However, Indonesia still lags behind, and many health policies are made based on “whispers” rather than scientific evidence. Dr. Hasbullah called for reforms in policy-making in Indonesia, stressing the importance of decisions based on logical understanding and cause-and-effect relationships. He urged policymakers to utilize data and scientific evidence in formulating policies that can effectively address public health challenges and strengthen the national health system to improve the quality of life for all Indonesians.
With the ongoing spirit and dedication, the Faculty of Public Health at the University of Indonesia is ready to step into the future, bringing new visions and innovations in the fight for public health. “Let us continue this journey together, for better health and a more prosperous life for the nation and the country,” concluded Dr. Hasbullah.
The 59th anniversary celebration of FPH UI highlighted the richness of culture through the orderly national dress of the archipelago. In line with the theme and the selected attire, it represents FPH UI, which continues to move forward in realizing the quality of public health in the archipelago through evidence-based public health. The event featured a series of exciting activities, from a group exercise, health checks (coronary heart disease screening, and nutritional status examination), to an inspiring academic oration. In addition, awards were given to outstanding lecturers, students, and educational staff during the 2023-2024 academic year. The event was also enlivened by artistic performances from FPH UI’s community, the announcement of competition winners, the selection of the most favored attire, and a symbolic cutting of the tumpeng as a symbol of gratitude and hope for a brighter future. (DFD)