Jokowi Enacts Indonesia's New Health Law, Allows Conditional Abortion

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo ratified Government Regulation (PP) Number 28 of 2024 on July 26, implementing the Health Law or Law No. 17 of 2023. This new regulation introduces significant changes to Indonesia's healthcare landscape.

The regulation, accessible on the State Secretariat Ministry’s Legal Information and Documentation Network (JDIH) website since July 29, 2024, covers a wide range of issues.

First, the government legalizes abortion under specific conditions. Article 120 permits doctors to perform abortions in cases of medical emergencies or pregnancies resulting from rape or other forms of sexual violence.

“Abortion services can only be carried out with the consent of the pregnant woman concerned and with the consent of the husband, except for victims of rape,” as stated in Article 122 paragraph 1 of the PP No. 28 of 2024.

Second, Article 434 states that everyone is prohibited from selling tobacco products and electronic cigarettes to people under the age of 21. Additionally, the sale of these products within a 200-meter radius of educational institutions and children's playgrounds is banned, including online sales.

Third, the new regulation emphasizes the integration of primary healthcare services and the role of health cadres. Article 200 paragraph 3 highlights the importance of village governments in addressing non-communicable diseases. Civil society groups have previously advocated for increased government funding, such as through the Village Fund and the Regional Budget, to combat stunting.

Fourth, the new regulation introduces measures to control excessive consumption of sugar, salt, and fat (GGL). Article 194 grants the government authority to set maximum limits for these components in processed ready-to-eat foods. The regulation also paves the way for potential excise taxes on certain processed foods, aligned with international standards and risk assessments.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin expressed enthusiasm about the new Health Law. “We welcome the issuance of this regulation, which is a foundation for us to jointly reform and build a health system that reaches the most remote parts of the country,” he said in a written statement on Monday, July 29.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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