The case against Indonesia’s bid for WHO leadership

Résumé détaillé

National pride cannot replace scrutiny: Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin’s domestic track record on judicial overreach, data governance and fractured medical trust makes him the wrong choice to lead the WHO.

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National pride cannot replace scrutiny: Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin’s domestic track record on judicial overreach, data governance and fractured medical trust makes him the wrong choice to lead the WHO.

hen Indonesia nominated Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin for director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) in August, many welcomed the announcement with national pride. No Southeast Asian has ever led the organization, and Indonesia has every right to contest its highest office.

National pride, however, must not displace rigorous scrutiny. On Nov. 4, the Coalition for Health Justice, which I coconvene, submitted a formal letter to the WHO Executive Board and World Health Assembly delegations opposing Minister Budi’s candidacy. More than 22 civil society organizations signed the petition, including the Council of Professors of Medicine of Indonesia (MGBKI), LaporSehat, Kabinet Bayangan, Indonesia Corruption Watch, MBG Watch and BPJS Watch.

We did not take this step lightly. Challenging a nominee from one’s own country before an international body inevitably invites accusations of disloyalty. Yet the WHO director general does not act as a national representative. The role demands principled leadership that defends the right to health, safeguards scientific independence, and maintains global trust in public health institutions. On each of these fronts, Minister Budi’s domestic record raises profound concerns.

Since the passage of Health Law No. 17/2023, several prominent physicians who publicly critiqued Health Ministry policies have been abruptly removed from positions within ministry-affiliated institutions. Neurosurgeon Zainal Muttaqin was dismissed from Dr. Kariadi Hospital in Semarang after publishing critical commentaries.

These administrative penalties were not…

Jud…

Début de l'article, extrait de The Jakarta Post. Pour lire la suite, ouvrez l'article chez le média.