The ministry's Director of Infectious Diseases, Ina Agustina Isturini, stated during a media briefing on Monday that the number of people detected and treated for TB continues to increase every year.
In 2023, the ministry aimed to detect 1,060,000 TB cases but achieved only 77 percent of this goal, identifying 821,200 cases and treating 78 percent of them, which equates to 722,863 patients.
"Although we have improved compared to the previous year, we still face challenges in achieving the target of detecting 90 percent of cases, or around 900 thousand cases," she remarked.
Additional targets for TB elimination in 2024 include achieving treatment rates of 90 percent for drug-sensitive TB (TBSO) and 80 percent for drug-resistant TB (TBRO). Current achievements stand at 84 percent for TBSO treatment and 58 percent for TBRO treatment.
Nationally, TB notification rates reached 81 percent, with Banten recording the highest rate at 112 percent, while Papua Highland had the lowest at just 27 percent, Isturini explained.
She expressed hope that by 2030, Indonesia's TB incidence would drop to the global target of 65 cases per 100 thousand population from the current rate of 388 cases per 100 thousand population.
"For treatment coverage, it is expected to be more than 90 percent, and the success rate is also above 90 percent," she remarked.
Related news: Ministry launches TB Handbook to achieve TB elimination goal
Isturini then outlined that TB elimination is part of the ministry's Quick Win Best Results Program (PHTC) for 2025, which includes detecting up to 981 thousand cases, initiating treatment for 95 percent, and achieving a success rate of 90 percent for drug-sensitive TB and 80 percent for drug-resistant TB.
Several efforts to ensure the initiatives' success include utilizing X-ray technology and implementing the Free Health Check (CKG) program to detect cases actively.
She emphasized integrating TB data from hospitals and health centers as crucial since many TB cases remain unreported.
"Then the provision of discovery incentives at FKTP - First Level Health Facilities - we are still processing this," she added.
The ministry is also developing more efficient treatment regimen innovations to reduce therapy duration from the current standard of 18 months to six months.
Other innovations include developing a TB vaccine expected by 2027, establishing specialized hospitals for handling TBRO and TBSO, and also mobilizing community participation for TB education and prevention.
Related news: Indonesia records 17,136 TB/HIV cases in 2024, up from 2022
Translator: Mecca Yumna, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
