Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government will issue a policy to support early detection of liver diseases at community health centers (puskesmas) by training general practitioners to identify conditions such as enlarged liver and fatty liver at an earlier stage.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Tuesday that more than 300 million people worldwide suffer from chronic liver disease and around 2 million die from the condition each year.

"In Indonesia, the figures vary depending on the source. The data I have show that around 70 million people are affected by chronic liver disease," he said during the commemoration of World Liver Day 2026 in Jakarta.

Budi explained that liver disease can progress from fibrosis to cirrhosis and eventually carcinoma, increasing the risk of liver cancer.

He said the condition can be caused by hepatitis B and C infections, alcohol consumption, obesity, and excessive sugar intake.

To address the problem, the government this year introduced the Nutri-Level nutrition labeling policy to help reduce diseases linked to excessive consumption of sugar, salt, and fat.

The Health Ministry has also introduced Hepatitis B immunization for healthcare workers, provided TDF prophylaxis for pregnant women, and included HBsAg screening in the Free Health Checkup program.

"Promotive and preventive measures are far more important than curative measures because they are less costly and result in a better quality of life for the public," Budi said.

Regarding early detection, he noted that the ministry has distributed ultrasound devices to puskesmas nationwide and that the equipment can be used to screen for liver diseases.

He added that artificial intelligence (AI) can also help detect such conditions, enabling general practitioners to conduct screenings more effectively.

"I think this is a technological advancement that we must be willing to pursue, and the government will issue a policy to support it. This will allow screening and treatment to be carried out earlier at puskesmas," Budi said.

According to the minister, strengthening liver disease screening at puskesmas will enable hospitals to focus on more complex cases while ensuring patients receive treatment sooner.

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