# Public health policy and political contestation in Indonesia

## TL;DR

The paper examines how public health issues were used in political campaigns during Indonesia's 2024 elections.

## Contribution

It highlights the lack of comprehensive public health plans in the winning campaign's proposals.

## Key findings

- The winning campaign focused on free food and milk without a broader health improvement plan.
- Public health issues were perceived as tools for electoral appeal rather than genuine policy solutions.
- Indonesia faces ongoing challenges like high stunting rates and poor maternal health outcomes.

## Abstract

Public health issues should be a focal concern for public leaders. A critical moment for articulating intended policies is during elections. At this time, candidates present significant ideas and proposals derived from the evaluation and reflection on the previous administration’s governance. This approach ensures that the proposed programmes are grounded in evidence. In 2024, Indonesia conducted general elections, amid significant public health challenges such as the persistently high prevalence of stunting and poor maternal and child health outcomes. The Prabowo-Gibran, who then won the election, focused their campaign on providing free food and milk. This campaign appears to be unsupported by a comprehensive improvement plan, leading to the impression that public health issues are merely used to enhance electoral appeal.