Head of BPOM Highlights Need for Indonesia-China Collaboration to Expand HPV Vaccine Access

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is deepening cooperation with China to expand access to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and accelerate domestic vaccine development.

The Head of the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) of the Republic of Indonesia, Taruna Ikrar, in a recent interview with Xinhua, stressed that HPV vaccination is one of the national priorities, given the high burden of cancer and the large population in the country.

“Indonesia has nearly 300 million people and more than 17,000 islands, which create unique challenges in providing health services and vaccines,” Taruna said.

He stated that immunisation remains the front-line defence, and HPV vaccination is a key pillar in the strategy to protect women.

Cervical cancer remains an urgent problem in Indonesia. To combat it, BPOM has promoted the use of the 9-valent HPV vaccine, which offers more than 90 per cent effectiveness in preventing infections.

To speed up its availability, Indonesia continues to deepen cooperation with China and other international partners through technology exchange and sharing of practical knowledge, Taruna said, highlighting that partnerships with Chinese biotechnology companies have played an important role.

Collaborating with partners from China allows Indonesia to skip the phase of starting from scratch, Taruna explained. This partnership not only provides access to cutting-edge technology but also strengthens Indonesia’s vaccine production capabilities, he added.

The cooperation also extends to a tiered ecosystem involving intergovernmental collaboration, business partnerships, and academic research alliances, the BPOM head said.

“I always say that collaboration is better than competition. If we collaborate, all parties will win,” Taruna said.

Following the strong and long-standing relations between Indonesia and China since ancient times, Taruna expressed optimism about the future of bilateral relations in the health sector. He also said the most important thing is to grow strong together.

“I believe Indonesia and China, from governments, institutions, universities, to their societies, are like one family,” he said.