Health Minister targets liver transplant capabilities across 34 provinces

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has set a target for more hospitals across Indonesia’s 34 provinces to be capable of performing liver transplants, aiming for a 90 per cent survival rate. Currently, the Minister noted that liver transplant capabilities are limited to only four hospitals across two cities, forcing many Indonesians to seek treatment overseas.

He highlighted that the prevalence of liver disease is higher than that of HIV or tuberculosis (TB). Globally, approximately 300 million people suffer from liver disease, resulting in two million deaths annually. In Indonesia, an estimated 70 million people are affected by chronic liver disease. Despite this, National Health Insurance (JKN) claims for liver disease management remain low, at around Rp1 trillion, because many related services are not yet included in the list of services covered by BPJS Kesehatan.

‘For instance, with liver transplants; once the liver is damaged, transplantation is one of the necessary solutions,’ Buju stated. To address this, he has tasked Fatmawati Hospital with leading the mentorship and training programme to ensure all 34 provinces can perform the procedure.

During the announcement, the Health Minister also emphasised the need to resolve drug pricing issues in Indonesia and implement liver screening at primary healthcare facilities to strengthen disease management. Marking World Liver Day, Budi remarked on the unique regenerative capacity of the liver, noting that it can regrow after being partially removed. He advised that maintaining a healthy diet and staying active to prevent obesity is crucial, as obesity can lead to fatty liver disease and potentially cancer. He also warned that liver deterioration can be caused by Hepatitis B and C viruses, alcohol consumption, and obesity.