Bio Farma Strengthens Support for Cervical Cancer Elimination Through Healthcare Worker Education

Bandung (ANTARA) – PT Bio Farma (Persero) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the National Action Plan (RAN) for Cervical Cancer Elimination, initiated by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, by holding a national educational webinar titled “Closing the Gap on HPV: Clinical Strategies and Stigma-Free Counseling for HPV Elimination in Indonesia”, held online on Saturday, 18 July 2026.

The webinar formed part of efforts to strengthen health workers’ understanding of the importance of preventing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, increasing vaccination coverage, and eliminating stigma surrounding the HPV vaccine as a strategic step towards eliminating cervical cancer in Indonesia.

As part of the Danantara ecosystem, Bio Farma continues to strengthen its role in supporting the government’s strategic health agenda, including through the development and provision of domestic health products, improving public health literacy, and collaborating with the government, health workers, academics, and various stakeholders.

The event featured speakers from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia and cross-disciplinary experts, namely Director of Immunisation at the Ministry of Health dr. Indri Yogyaswari, obstetrics and gynaecology specialist dr. Tofan Widya Utami, dermatology and venereology specialist dr. Wresti Indriatmi, and paediatric specialist dr. Hartono Gunardi. The webinar was attended by around 500 general practitioners and health workers from across Indonesia.

Representing the Ministry of Health, dr. Indri Yogyaswari emphasised that HPV infection does not only affect women but can also infect men, so prevention efforts must be carried out comprehensively.

“The Ministry of Health has launched the National Action Plan for Cervical Cancer Elimination with targets of 90% HPV immunisation, 75% screening, and 90% cancer management by 2030. HPV immunisation coverage in 2025 reached 90.9%, thanks to the policy of administering a single vaccine dose to girls aged 11, following a long journey from trials in Jakarta in 2016 to national introduction in 2023. Going forward, vaccination will be gradually extended to boys, starting in DKI Jakarta, DI Yogyakarta, and Bali in 2026, followed by West Java, Central Java, and Banten in 2027, and East Java in 2028, along with an expansion of the target age range for females,” said dr. Indri.

She also stressed that the challenges in eliminating cervical cancer still stem from low public health literacy and the circulation of inaccurate information about the HPV vaccine.

“Many myths are still circulating in society, such as the assumption that the HPV vaccine can cause infertility. Therefore, health workers play a vital role as the spearhead of education. With collaboration among all stakeholders, we can achieve cervical cancer elimination in Indonesia,” added dr. Indri.

In her presentation, obstetrics and gynaecology specialist dr. Tofan Widya Utami explained that Indonesia still faces a high burden of cervical cancer, requiring comprehensive prevention strategies, including HPV vaccination.

“Indonesia has the highest incidence of cervical cancer in Southeast Asia. It is estimated that one woman dies from cervical cancer every 25 minutes. However, we have a solution through HPV vaccination, which can be given to both men and women. With the domestically produced quadrivalent vaccine, we are on the right track. The recommendation of a single dose for ages 9–20 and two doses for those over 21 also makes this programme more efficient. It is time for all Indonesian children to receive equal protection against HPV infection,” explained dr. Tofan.

In a separate statement, Bio Farma’s Commercial Director, Fitri Puspadewi, said that Bio Farma already has the Nusagard HPV vaccine and the CerviScan early HPV detection device, which can support prevention and early detection of HPV infection.

“The HPV vaccine provides protection against HPV types that can cause both benign and malignant diseases, including cervical cancer. HPV vaccination can also be given to both women and men. Bio Farma now has an HPV preventive vaccine that is fully produced domestically and has obtained halal certification,” said Fitri.

Fitri explained that the Nusagard HPV vaccine provides protection against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18. HPV types 16 and 18 are known to be high-risk types associated with cervical cancer, whilst types 6 and 11 are associated with other diseases caused by HPV infection.

“In addition to Nusagard, Bio Farma also has CerviScan, which is used to support the early detection of HPV infection. The presence of these two products reflects Bio Farma’s readiness to contribute to efforts to prevent, detect early, and control diseases caused by HPV in the community,” said Fitri.

As part of the Danantara ecosystem, Bio Farma is committed to strengthening the capacity of the national health industry by providing domestically manufactured products. This capacity-building is expected to support national health self-reliance whilst ensuring access to quality prevention and early detection products for the public.

Cervical cancer is cancer that occurs in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects the womb to the vagina. According to GLOBOCAN data, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, with an estimated 660,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths in 2022.

HPV infection can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. The infection can cause both benign and malignant diseases. Therefore, women and men need to gain a proper understanding of HPV prevention, including through vaccination as recommended by health workers.

Through this strategic collaboration, Bio Farma reaffirms its commitment as a state-owned enterprise and part of the Danantara ecosystem that is not only focused on business sustainability but also carries out a strategic role in public health development. This commitment is realised through the provision of domestic health products, continuous education, and cross-sector collaboration to help realise a healthier Indonesian generation free from the threat of diseases caused by HPV infection.