Out of three patients, only one person receives treatment regularly.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia can save up to Rp7.7 trillion per year if it manages to reduce the incidence of heart disease, which would ease the financial burden on the state from healthcare costs, a Health Ministry official said.

"There are so many costs which have to be paid by (the social insurance program of state-run Healthcare and Social Security Agency) BPJS Kesehatan because of this catastrophic disease, which can be saved if the risk factors (of the disease) can be minimized," Director of Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (P2PTM) at the ministry Eva Susanti said on Wednesday.

At a press conference on World Heart Day 2022, she noted that according to a report from the ministry, in the period from 2017–2021, cardiovascular disease ranked first in terms of the burden on BPJS Kesehatan, with the number of patients pegged at around 9.4 million per year.

It was followed by cancer (with an average of 3.5 million patients per year), stroke (2.5 million patients), kidney (2.3 million patients), thalassemia (500 thousand patients), leukemia (355 thousand patients), hepatitis (310 thousand patients), and hemophilia (443 thousand patients).

Based on data from Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) carried out by the Health Ministry, during 2013–2018, the number of cardiovascular patients rose 14.4 percent, bringing healthcare costs to around Rp7.7 trillion per year.

Furthermore, the number of stroke patients increased by 19.4 percent, with the health costs rising to Rp1.9 trillion per year, while the number of cancer patients surged 12.5 percent, with the health costs reaching Rp3.1 trillion.

The director noted that only 3 out of every 10 patients suffering from non-communicable diseases are identified as the rest do not know that they are sick as they experience no symptoms until complications arise.

"Out of three patients, only one person receives treatment regularly," she added.

Several factors create the risk of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, obesity, smoking, diabetes, and lack of physical activity.

Related news: Health Ministry plans to build cardiovascular hospital in S Sulawesi

According to the Health Ministry, 41 million people die of non-communicable diseases every year globally, and 17.9 million deaths are caused by cardiovascular disease.

In Indonesia, about 651,481 people die of cardiovascular disease every year.

The commemoration of World Heart Day 2022, which is celebrated every September 29, has raised the global theme of “Use Heart for Every Heart.” In addition, Indonesia has raised its own theme, namely “Healthy Hearts for All.”

At the commemoration, the ministry invited people to make simple, positive changes in their daily activities, such as regularly getting a medical checkup, quitting smoking, regularly undertaking physical exercises, consuming a healthy and balanced diet, getting enough rest, as well as managing stress levels well to have a healthy heart, Susanti added.

Related news: Ministry, US hospital explore cooperation in cardiovascular care



Translator: Andi Firdaus, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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