## New Public Service (NPS) as a Paradigm for Public Administration in Indonesian Food and Drug Surveillance (BPOM) This research explores the applicability of the New Public Service (NPS) paradigm to the Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM). It argues that NPS, with its citizen-centric approach, offers a more suitable framework than previous models like Old Public Administration (OPA) and New Public Management (NPM). ### 1. Background: Indonesia's Decentralization and BPOM's Role Indonesia's governance underwent significant decentralization post-1998, leading to the establishment of numerous Non-Departmental Government Agencies (LPNDs), including BPOM in 2001. BPOM, a central agency with branches across the country, faces the challenge of balancing speed and efficiency with the paramount need for safety, quality, and efficacy in food and drug regulation. This creates a tension between the demands of industry and the needs of citizens. The debate surrounding the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines highlighted this tension. Some criticized BPOM for being too slow, while others felt it acted too quickly under pressure. ### 2. Methodology: Qualitative Text Analysis This study employs a qualitative approach, analyzing data from websites, reports, social media, and relevant literature. The scope is limited to BPOM's key activities as outlined in its 2020-2024 Strategic Plan, updated to reflect the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of the Job Creation Law. ### 3. Results and Discussion: NPS Principles and BPOM's Practices The study examines the alignment of BPOM's operations with the seven core principles of NPS: #### 3.1 Serve Citizens, Not Customers & Seek the Public Interest NPS emphasizes serving the public interest, which is a collective good, not simply aggregating individual interests. BPOM's efforts to balance deregulation (for efficiency) with maintaining safety, quality, and efficacy exemplify this principle. The "reliance" system for drug registration, accepting approvals from other strong regulatory bodies, demonstrates this balance. Viewing BPOM solely as a service provider to the pharmaceutical industry (an NPM perspective) overlooks the crucial role of citizens as the ultimate beneficiaries (and potential victims) of drug and food safety. #### 3.2 Value Citizenship over Entrepreneurship NPS prioritizes the public interest over purely business-oriented approaches. BPOM's initiatives like the "CekKLIK" campaign (Check Packaging, Label, License, and Expiration Date) empower citizens to actively participate in ensuring product safety. The BPOM Mobile app further facilitates citizen engagement by enabling reporting of issues. While BPOM measures citizen awareness and satisfaction, its responsiveness to public concerns on social media needs improvement. #### 3.3 Think Strategically, Act Democratically BPOM's collaboration with local governments, particularly through non-physical Special Allocation Funds (DAK), highlights strategic collaboration to achieve shared goals. This addresses the decentralized nature of health-related authorities in Indonesia. The collaboration with local governments on licensing and taxation demonstrates the strategic and democratic approach required to balance national and local interests. #### 3.4 Recognize that Accountability Isn't Simple & Serve Rather than Steer BPOM's dual role in both empowering stakeholders and enforcing regulations creates complexities in accountability. Balancing these roles requires a clear understanding of responsibilities and adherence to established norms. The balance between empowerment and enforcement is crucial, especially for BPOM's regional offices with limited resources. #### 3.5 Value People, Not Just Productivity NPS prioritizes human well-being and citizen engagement. BPOM's citizen empowerment programs aim to enhance public health by enabling citizens to protect themselves and their communities. This approach recognizes the limitations of BPOM's reach and the importance of citizen participation. Responding to public comments on social media is a simple yet effective way to demonstrate citizen engagement. ### 4. Conclusion and Recommendations The NPS paradigm aligns well with BPOM's needs, offering a more comprehensive framework than OPA or NPM. BPOM should explicitly integrate the NPS principles into its organizational documents to ensure internal alignment and stakeholder understanding. Increased responsiveness to citizen engagement, particularly on social media, is crucial.