BACKGROUND: Indonesia has made significant progress in adopting smoke-free and TAPS ban policies. However, the actual implementation of these regulations remains inadequate. Effective enforcement is considered essential for the successful adoption of a tobacco control policy, as the policy would have little impact without proper enforcement. This study aimed to identify the key facilitators and challenges in the enforcement of tobacco control policies.
METHODS: This was a qualitative study conducted in three cities/districts in Indonesia namely Bogor, Kulon Progo and Klungkung from November-December 2023. Data was collected through focus group discussion in each cities/district attended by 10-13 participants selected purposively from the task force team which comprises enforcement officers and relevant government officials responsible for enforcing tobacco control regulations at the venues. Data then analysed thematically to identify facilitating and hindering factors of implementation, a comparison across cities were also made.
RESULTS: From the task force team's perspective, it was found that a clearly defined roles and responsibilities among relevant sectors, regular inspections through joint patrols, and strict sanctions can enhance the implementation of tobacco control policies. Collaborative efforts with public health centers, sub-district and village officials, youth communities, and various government departments also play a crucial role in ensuring effective enforcement. Additionally, empowering public support through a public reporting system not only strengthens enforcement but also raises community awareness. However, a key challenge reported was the limited availability of human resources, budget constraints within the institution and lack of awareness among implementers and community.
CONCLUSIONS: The effective enforcement of tobacco control policies depends on availability and capacity of structural resources to collaborative efforts. Addressing challenges through increase resource allocation, capacity building, transferring lesson learned to other jurisdictions will be essential for the sustainable and successful enforcement of tobacco control measures.