Jakarta, 3 October 2019 - Good health is a right afforded to everyone. Nonetheless, realizing the right to health is a challenge for many individuals and communities as evidenced by the continued rise of global health epidemics such as non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs account for some 41 million global deaths each year, and are the leading cause of mortality in the world today.

Yet while NCDs affect everyone, it is low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Indonesia that carry the greatest burden with around 28 million deaths being annually attributed to NCDs. Meanwhile, health services are, in general, still in the reactive mode when it comes to serving the needs of the population. In fact, they often lack the capacity to treat non-communicable diseases, especially if these are chronic or long-term.

Individuals and communities can minimize the risks of NCDs by either making purposeful lifestyle changes or by not engaging in unhealthy practices in the first place (e.g. smoking, unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity). Unfortunately, either option often proves too much of a challenge for many individuals and communities.

To ensure their right to health, individuals and communities must first realize, at the very least, both their right to information and to enjoy the benefits that application of scientific progress bring. This must include knowledge of and access to alternative or less harmful products such as low sodium salt, low calorie sweeteners and alternative tobacco products, for example.

In response to this issue, Foundation for International Human Rights Reporting Standards (FIHRRST) has completed a study examining the access to information and scientific innovation in Indonesia, particularly as this relates to alternative or less harmful products.

The results of the study and recommendations of the research were disseminated by FIHRRST to various stakeholders at a seminar held on 3 October 2019. Opened by Mualimin Abdi, Director General of Human Rights at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, the seminar was followed by a discussion attended by representatives of the Foundation Public Health Observer (YPKP), Central Information Commission (KIP), Padjadjaran University, University of Indonesia, Lakpesdam PBNU, PT Garam, and MoVI. During the wide-ranging discussion, Marzuki Darusman, chair and founder of FIHRRST made the point that businesses have indeed made several efforts to reduce health risks through their innovations. What’s really needed, though, is greater access to that information, both from the government and the companies themselves. FIHRRST has released the results of the study, as well as the subsequent recommendations to a range of stakeholders that include the government, business actors and community organizations.

Government For the public to play an active role in protecting their own health, they must have knowledge about these less harmful products, as well as access to them. Here, the government must become involved from the earliest stages in communicating the latest news to the public.

First, the government needs to encourage public involvement in the research. Plus, it also needs to provide incentives and organize research forums.

Prof.Dr.drg. Achmad Syawqie, M. Kes., Founder and Chairperson of the Public Health Observer Foundation (YPKP), added, "More in-depth scientific research on alternative tobacco products and their results needs to be provided to the public, especially considering the various benefits of the concept and approach to harm reduction in reducing the prevalence of smoking, and more and more independent evidence and scientific research becoming available."

Secondly, it is necessary to enact laws and regulations that reflect the latest understanding of science and technology in a transparent and objective manner. If the relevant departments or ministries have evaluated the products, the state can set the limits within which businesses producing alternative products are allowed to sell them to the public.

Furthermore, it is the government's responsibility to provide this information in a manner that the public can easily comprehend. So investigations are also needed on how citizens digest information, especially information about health matters. It will be important to factor in those items that can hinder the accurate dissemination of information such as illiteracy and community rejections.

"The public has the right to obtain public information. Government efforts to convey information must be further enhanced through various applications of technological and media advancements, be consistent, and strengthen health information systems," said Dr. Ardini Raksanagara, dr., MPH from the Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Padjadjaran University.

Business Businesses can also take a proactive approach to reducing the harms posed by their products. It’s no use just waiting for the government to pass laws and regulations designed to protect their customers. Businesses must actively inform the public about scientific innovations that may make their products less harmful to health. In addition, businesses need to ensure the research they undertake is readily available to the academic, scientific, and / or medical community for independent review.