Government Accelerates TB Handling After Discovery of 241,000 Cases

The Head of the Indonesian Government Communication Agency (Bakom RI), Muhammad Qodari, stated that by 3 May 2026, the detection of tuberculosis (TB) cases had reached 241,000, necessitating accelerated handling through various efforts. “Case detection exceeds 241,000 cases, treatment initiation stands at 84% of the 95% target, and treatment success at 80% of the 90% target,” Qodari said during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday. “We must emphasise that TB case detection achievements still require acceleration. However, once again, the government has taken various concrete steps that are proceeding simultaneously,” he added. Among these, integration of TB screening with the Free Health Check (CKG) programme for the public and workers has been implemented. Worker screening has been conducted in 16 ministries and agencies and will be expanded to 50 other ministries and agencies. Strengthening detection capacity is also being carried out at community health centres (puskesmas) through the provision of Near Point of Care Testing (NPOCT) equipment and scheduled X-ray examinations starting in the second semester of this year. In addition, Qodari said, the TB contact tracing programme integrated with CKG has been implemented in 13 districts/cities in West Java and Central Java, targeting 5,500 patient contacts from April to May 2026, and will be gradually expanded nationwide. The government is also promoting community empowerment through the establishment of TB alert villages. To date, 6,484 villages and urban villages in 117 districts/cities across 23 provinces have committed to independently preventing and controlling TB through screening activities, tracing, treatment support, preventive therapy, and nutritional support. On the other hand, the government is targeting the improvement of 8,000 TB patient homes in 2026 in priority areas with high case burdens. So far, 5,453 homes have been proposed for improvement via the Housing Assistance Information System (Sibaru) application. “The target of improving 8,000 TB patient homes breaks the transmission chain from the biggest source, namely unhealthy housing,” he said. Qodari added that TB handling coordination is also being strengthened through cross-sectoral meetings involving relevant ministries as well as all regional heads in 38 provinces and 514 districts/cities. These efforts aim to increase case detection, accelerate treatment, and strengthen TB transmission prevention in the community. “Behind every child screened, there is hope for our future improvement. Behind every patient treated, there is a protected family. Behind every home improved, there is a child who can grow healthy and go to school,” he stated.