The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) of the Republic of Indonesia has officially implemented a major overhaul in the country's tuberculosis (TB) control strategy. The latest policy requires all health facilities to conduct up to 100 percent tracing of family members and individuals who have had close contact with confirmed TB patients. This step is taken as a crucial effort to break the chain of transmission at the grassroots level while accelerating the national TB elimination target by 2030.
Deputy Minister of Health, Benjamin Paulus Octavianus, emphasized the importance of a paradigm shift in the early detection of the disease. Speaking at the 2026 National Tuberculosis Forum in Jakarta, he likened TB management to targeting the source of transmission directly. According to him, the focus must not stop at treating patients who are already sick, but must extend to protecting those at risk of infection.
This new strategy will be fully supported by the Free Health Check Program (CKG), the use of portable X-rays, and rapid testing technology to expand detection reach. The government stated that the budget and supporting devices for 2026 have been prepared, while calling for cross-sector collaboration—ranging from local governments to community health workers—to actively participate in its implementation.
Statistical data highlights the urgency of this policy, as Indonesia currently accounts for approximately 10 percent of the global TB case burden. With an estimated 1.08 million sufferers and significant annual mortality rates, the main challenges faced include detecting high-risk groups, social stigmatization, and limited medical access in remote areas.
Beyond medical interventions, the government is also striving to eliminate the negative stigma still attached to TB patients. The experiences of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) survivors serve as a reminder that social support plays a vital role in successful treatment. Kemenkes is now focusing on four main pillars: massive tracing, rapid treatment, provision of preventive therapy, and collaborative synergy down to the village level to ensure every patient completes their treatment period.
