Dr. Mubasysyir Hasan Basri, MD, was officially inaugurated as a professor of population health at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FK-KMK UGM), on Tuesday (Jul. 15) at the UGM Senate Hall.
In his inaugural address, he emphasized the strong link between health science and community well-being, delivering a speech titled “Seeking Institutional Lenses and Solutions to Advance Public Health in Indonesia.”
Professor Basri asserted that epidemiology is not merely about interpreting curves, figures, or disease trends; it is fundamentally about understanding the people affected.
“Health cannot be viewed solely through a medical lens. It must also account for critical social factors such as environment, economics, and culture,” the professor stated.
He explained that the population health approach encourages us to consider the continuum of environments people inhabit, from their homes and schools to workplaces. He highlighted weaknesses in governance systems, which remain heavily dependent on project-based approaches, where managerial functions are often combined with technical operational tasks.
“What we need are professionals with a background in health sciences who are also equipped with strong managerial and organizational leadership skills,” he explained.
Furthermore, he called for a management contract-based approach supported by measurable performance indicators and cross-sector accountability mechanisms. According to Professor Basri, the success of health system transformation hinges on how public institutions understand and carry out their responsibilities.
He also pointed out current public health challenges. Conditions such as stunting, tuberculosis, and diabetes cannot be addressed solely from a clinical perspective. Instead, they are significantly influenced by social and environmental determinants, including access to clean water and air, nutritious food sources, and healthy lifestyles.
“Unfortunately, these critical determinants are often managed by agencies outside the health sector,” he added.
At the end of his speech, Professor Basri expressed hope that the government would adopt a broader perspective in shaping the national health sector with four key areas of focus: the appointment of health managers at the regional level, improved intersectoral management mechanisms and flexibility, faster information system responses, and the development of disease detection systems within rural communities.
UGM Rector, Professor Ova Emilia, stated that Professor Basri is one of UGM’s 530 active professors, and one of 75 out of 103 professors currently serving at FK-KMK UGM.
“We extend our congratulations to Professor Basri. May his expertise bring continued contributions to both science and society,” she said.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Donnie Trisfian
Post-editor: Bendina M