Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said only three PET scans are currently in use at several government hospitals.
"By 2027, the government aims to expand this number to 21 units, distributed among 16 hospitals across Indonesia such as in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Maluku, Papua, and East Nusa Tenggara," Minister Sadikin said here on Monday.
Minister Sadikin said PET scans are a crucial technology for detecting cancer early and assessing its spread.
The minister highlighted the global burden of cancer, noting that it is the second leading cause of death worldwide, with approximately 9.6 million deaths annually.
Indonesia, with a cancer incidence of 136 cases per 100,000 population, ranks eighth in Southeast Asia in terms of disease prevalence.
The expansion of PET scan availability is expected to contribute to a reduction in cancer mortality, Sadikin said.
However, the high cost of PET scans has limited their accessibility in many hospitals.
The national health insurer, BPJS Health, currently covers only one PET scan per patient due to the substantial operational costs associated with the technology.
The minister emphasized the need to address this cost barrier to ensure that patients can receive multiple PET scans when necessary.
He indicated that discussions with BPJS Health will be held to explore potential solutions, such as reducing the cost of PET scans to enable broader coverage.
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Translator: Rubby Jovan P, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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