12–14 People Die Every Hour: TB Remains a Serious Threat in Indonesia
Indonesia is still grappling with high mortality rates from tuberculosis (TB). Every hour, 12 to 14 people die from the disease, while Indonesia holds the second-highest number of TB cases worldwide.
Paediatric specialist Dr Rina Triasih revealed this situation during the TropmedTalk podcast organised by the Centre for Tropical Medicine (PKT) at UGM to mark World Tuberculosis Day. “This is as dangerous as COVID,” Rina stated in a written release received in Yogyakarta on Monday (6/4).
She explained that low public vigilance is one of the challenges, as TB develops slowly and is often perceived as non-threatening. In reality, symptoms of the disease only appear 4–12 weeks after infection, risking delayed diagnosis and increased transmission.
Rina noted that the number of TB cases in Indonesia is estimated at 1.09 million. “This condition underscores that TB remains a serious public health issue, despite ongoing efforts to achieve the TB elimination target by 2030,” she said.
According to her, the rise in cases is also influenced by improved case-finding efforts that previously went undetected.
On the other hand, TB control still faces various challenges, from disparities in healthcare access due to geographical factors to societal stigma. Many patients hesitate to seek examination for fear of a TB diagnosis or job loss. “Delayed diagnosis increases transmission risk and worsens patient conditions,” she said.
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH
To address this, Rina emphasised the importance of a comprehensive approach through the search, treat, and prevent strategy, which includes detecting active cases, ensuring complete treatment, and preventive therapy for at-risk groups.
She also appreciated innovations from the Ministry of Health, such as the use of portable X-rays to detect TB cases in various regions. “This is a very good innovation for reaching previously undetected TB cases,” she said.
Furthermore, the development of integrated screening services through the One Stop Service (OSS) concept, integrated with free health check programmes, is seen as capable of accelerating detection and management.
Rina urged the public not to ignore TB symptoms, such as coughing for more than two weeks, and to immediately seek examination at health facilities. She also stressed that TB is curable and not a hereditary disease, so stigma must be eliminated to support TB elimination efforts in Indonesia.