I think we need to prevent it early. We need to carry out early detection and then do prevention by eliminating risk factors
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Director-general of disease prevention and control at the Ministry of Health Maxi Rein Rondonuwu has asked all health facilities to improve the provision of early detection services for cancer.



"I think we need to prevent it early. We need to carry out early detection and then do prevention by eliminating risk factors," he said during a media briefing for the 2022 World Cancer Day, themed "Close the Care Gap," on Wednesday.



Based on Globocan data, in 2020, the number of cancer patients in Indonesia reached 65,858, with the number of patients with cervical cancer recorded at 36,633, he noted.


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According to Rondonuwu, the total amount spent by the state on treating cancer patients alone reached Rp4.1 trillion in 2019 and Rp3.5 trillion in 2020 as many patients visited health facilities when the cancer was already at an advanced stage.



One-third to one-half of the patients who died of cancer could have been saved through preventive measures and early detection, he highlighted.



Unfortunately, there are still many health facilities that do not provide early detection services optimally, he said. For example, if a patient from the eastern part of Indonesia wants to access a radiotherapy service, the patient must first come to Surabaya, he explained.



In fact, he said, patients have to again queue for one to two years to be able to access the service.


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He then called for a more even distribution of cancer handling such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy services for cancer treatment in the future.



In connection with the celebration of World Cancer Day on February 4, 2022, he expressed the hope that all cancer patients can get better services, especially for early detection.



"I hope the celebration of World Cancer Day can increase our joint commitment," he remarked.



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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma, Raka Adji Pu
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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