According to Health Ministry's data, Indonesia continues to face significant TB burden, with some 867,000 cases diagnosed over past year.
"If we could make IGRA test go down from Rp 1 million (US$58.32) to just Rp 50,000 (US$2.92), the impact on the state budget would be tremendous," Deputy Health Ministry Benjamin Paulus Octavianus said here on Tuesday.
In addition to calling for more efficient health technologies, particularly in diagnostics, Octavianus underscored the importance of cross-sectoral monitoring of innovations currently under development.
He urged for everyone's collaboration and participation in overseeing progress in IGRA testing, as the technology is crucial for the national target.
On the same occasion, Head of BPOM Taruna Ikrar also brought attention to the need to strengthen national phytopharmaceutical products through research and development as part to support resilience in the national health sector.
Ikrar pointed to Indonesia's vast natural resources and the potential to develop them into healthcare solutions.
Of the 40,000 plant species worldwide, 31,000 are found in Indonesia and can be utilized as ingredients for herbal medicines, he noted.
He added that Indonesia’s natural resources could generate hundreds of trillions of rupiah in economic value annually.
“With our own resources, Indonesia should be able to create its own solutions for the healthcare sector,” he remarked.
He also noted that by ensuring these innovations meet proper standards, the products can deliver added value and support the growth of the national pharmaceutical industry.
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Translator: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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