According to Disease Prevention and Control Director General Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, the quarantine function will adopt the system been implemented throughout the COVID-19 control period in the country.
This is implemented by preventing various diseases at the country's entryways, including on land, in air, and at sea.
BKKN's work system refers to information from the World Health Organization (WHO) concerning potential disease outbreaks in the world.
"When we hear any information, especially if it has been declared as Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by WHO, procedure at the entryways will be strengthened and tightened," he affirmed.
On a separate occasion, health expert Tjandra Yoga Aditama said that the formation of BKKN is contained within article 273, point 2 of the Health Bill.
"This agency is a ministerial-level government institution that has the function, duty, and authority in handling matters concerning health quarantine," he explained.
The article stipulates that the BKKN is formed to observe diseases or disease risk factors that can trigger an outbreak and threaten national security.
He opined that formation of the ministerial-level agency to handle health quarantine will be beneficial in protecting public health.
Aditama noted that the idea aligns with the recommendation from a team formed by the WHO called the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
It states that a country should establish pandemic control coordination at the highest level.
"We already know that health quarantine implementation is one of the main aspects in controlling the pandemic, in the form of pandemic preparedness and response," he remarked.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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