Deputy Interior Minister Wiyagus Reiterates Local Governments' Commitment to Accelerate TB Management

Deputy Interior Minister Akhmad Wiyagus has stressed the importance of local governments’ commitment to accelerating the resolution of tuberculosis (TB) as part of efforts to protect the public and support national development. He made this statement during a press conference for World TB Day 2026 at the Ministry of Health office in Jakarta on Monday (6/4/2026). On that occasion, Wiyagus emphasised that the success of TB elimination heavily depends on regional leadership, particularly in integrating TB control policies into local planning and budgeting. “Tuberculosis is not merely a health issue, but it also impacts public productivity, poverty, and the improvement of human resources quality (HR). It must be addressed seriously because it can hinder the national development agenda,” said Wiyagus. He explained that the government’s commitment to tackling TB has been affirmed through Presidential Regulation No. 67 of 2021. This regulation serves as the foundation for local governments to take concrete steps in protecting the public from the TB threat. Furthermore, Wiyagus requested that the acceleration of TB control in regions be realised through measured and sustainable policies. These efforts include strengthening planning, increasing budget allocation, and empowering local apparatus down to the village and sub-district levels. With this approach, TB management is expected to run more effectively, from case detection and treatment to integrated prevention. Wiyagus again reminded that Indonesia still holds the second-highest number of TB cases worldwide. Therefore, he stressed that more massive and coordinated acceleration, including cross-sector collaboration, is urgently needed. “We must be solid with other stakeholders so that TB elimination can truly be realised by us together,” he concluded. For information, this press conference was also attended by Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus and representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) in Indonesia.