Communication Policy Formulation for the Implementation of Health Programs

Communicationis animportant factor inthe successful implementation ofgovernment policies and programs. Some findings fromprevious studiesandnews in mediaindicatethatthere arehealth policies and programsthathave notsucceeded inachievingtheirtargets,which may be due tothe ineffectiveness ofthe communication function. Therefore, the aim of this research was to analyze policy process and produce a formulation of communications policy (in the form of a guideline draft). Using qualitative methodology with descriptive type, data collection was conducted through in-depth interviews, focus group discussion, and literature analysis. The results showed that the communication functions that have been conducted haveprogressed, but there were still problems and challenges, both internally and externally. This includes the absence of a communications guidelineto be referenced in directing, controlling, and evaluating the implementation of tasks and daily functions as well as regulating matters of public relations fundamentally and thoroughly. It was concluded that communication functions executed by the Public Relations Unit of the Ministry of Health have not been optimally implemented. It is recommended to immediately realize guidelines to manage the communication functions in an integrated and comprehensive way in terms of institutions, activities, governance, and resource. It is hoped that the findings of this study will be adopted into regulation in support of the implementation of health development programs in Indonesia.