Deputy Health Minister: Free Health Checks and Innovation Offer Hope in Eliminating TB in Indonesia

Tuberculosis remains a major challenge. This is not only a health issue but also relates to social, economic, nutritional, and environmental factors.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Health Benjamin Paulus Octavianus stated that accelerating the elimination of tuberculosis (TB) through Free Health Checks (CKG) and innovation offers hope in tackling the transmission and deaths caused by the disease.

Speaking in Jakarta on Tuesday, Deputy Minister Benjamin said Indonesia records more than one million TB cases every year, making it one of the countries with the highest TB burden in the world.

Therefore, the government is promoting rapid steps through massive early detection, including the CKG Programme with a target to reach 130 million people by 2026.

In addition, hope for eliminating TB remains through innovation, with more than 100 diagnostic tools, 29 TB drugs, and 18 vaccine candidates currently being developed for follow-up.

He said that every minute, two people become infected with TB and every four minutes one person dies in Indonesia. Therefore, initiatives are also strengthening other strategies, namely close contact tracing, provision of TB preventive therapy, as well as enhancing the role of the community and health cadres.

“There is no time to delay. Every case found and treated is a step to save lives,” said Deputy Minister Benjamin.

Data shows that in 2024 there were around 118,000 deaths due to TB in people without HIV and 8,100 deaths in people with HIV in Indonesia.

“TB remains a global threat. There is progress, but it is not fast enough. Political commitment and national funding are very determining,” he said.

The WHO also highlights major challenges, such as undiagnosed cases, drug-resistant TB, and risk factors like malnutrition, diabetes, and smoking habits.