Health Ministry Finds 13,297 Leprosy Suspects in 2026 Free Health Screening

The Ministry of Health has announced that its 2026 Free Health Screening programme identified 13,297 suspected leprosy cases from 25.2 million participants aged one year and above who were examined. The ministry added leprosy, scabies, and yaws screening in 2026 as part of efforts to accelerate the elimination of these diseases in Indonesia. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated in Jakarta on Tuesday that leprosy has existed for thousands of years and the causative bacterium belongs to the same genus as the tuberculosis bacterium, Mycobacterium. However, he noted that despite being known for so long, many still consider the disease a curse, meaning the stigma surrounding leprosy complicates detection and hinders treatment. ‘Because people are affected by stigma, even though if they were screened through the Free Health Screening it could be detected,’ he said. He emphasised that medication or antibiotics for leprosy are already available and proven effective, so cured patients no longer transmit the disease. He mentioned that the stigma around leprosy is very strong. He gave an example of a building in Makassar where sufferers gather because they are not accepted by their own families. Such situations occur widely across Indonesia. ‘We visited recently when they wanted to watch football. So they asked for a TV. We bought them a TV so they could watch the football. I visited two days before the final,’ Budi said. He also urged the media to help educate the public about the Free Health Screening programme and its benefits in ensuring a healthy life. Director General of Primary and Community Health at the Ministry of Health, Maria Endang Sumiwi, said the 2026 Free Health Screening also found 21,297 suspected scabies cases from 25.4 million participants aged one year and above, and 2,293 suspected yaws cases from 21.3 million participants aged one year and above. Previously, Budi stated in Jakarta on Thursday that to strengthen detection coverage, in addition to including leprosy screening in the Free Health Screening programme, his ministry would conduct PCR tests for residents in eastern Indonesia. Furthermore, the ministry is treating patients until they are cured, whether for six months or twelve months. ‘Thirdly, we are providing prophylaxis to all close contacts, the entire family,’ he said. He underscored the government’s commitment to eliminating the infectious disease by 2030.