Mitra Tarigan, Jakarta – The Director of Non-Communicable Diseases at the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said that the problem of diabetes has a significant impact. "According to the Indonesian Health Survey, its prevalence reaches almost 30 percent, which means that nearly 65 million people in Indonesia are suspected of having diabetes mellitus," she said in a press release received by Tempo in mid-November 2025.
Currently, Nadia stated that her team has only detected around 10 million patients with diabetes. "Through the Free Health Check Program from early 2024 to November 2025, we found 5 to 7.5 million new cases of diabetes. The current challenge we face is not only that, but we are also limited in terms of the availability of equipment and the capacity of health personnel," Nadia said.
One of the continued impacts of the diabetes mellitus issue is diabetic retinopathy, a diabetes complication that damages the blood vessels in the retina. This disease, which attacks the light-sensitive tissue behind the eye, causes vision problems and even blindness.
Siti Nadia encourages more people, especially diabetes patients, to undergo diabetic retinopathy screening. "We want to ensure that diabetic retinopathy screening is not only dependent on the availability of specialist doctors but can also be carried out massively in primary care, with the support of appropriate technology and clear referral pathways," said Nadia.
Prior to the World Diabetes Day, the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing at Gadjah Mada University (FK-KMK UGM) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a pilot project on comprehensive diabetic retinopathy management. This collaboration, supported and witnessed by the Ministry of Health, is a joint commitment to strengthen diabetic retinopathy services in Indonesia and reduce the burden of the disease, which is one of the main causes of visual impairment in the country.
"With support from Roche Indonesia, FK-KMK UGM can introduce a new approach. We hope that the digital tele-ophthalmology-based DR screening method, utilizing AI, can become scientific evidence that can be translated into national policies in the future," said Nadia.
The high burden of diabetic retinopathy is triggered by the high burden of diabetes mellitus as the cause of diabetic retinopathy. The low population-based retinopathy screening coverage and the limited number of professional eye health personnel, as well as access to diabetic retinopathy management in accordance with current medical standards, worsen the situation. Through this collaboration, both parties will strive to increase screening coverage and access to diabetic retinopathy management in accordance with the latest medical standards.
Vice Rector for Research, Business Development, and Cooperation at UGM, Danang Sri Hadmoko, said that his team is honored to establish a strategic partnership with Roche. "We believe that this partnership will contribute to addressing health challenges, especially in the field of eye health in Indonesia," said Danang.
Danang stated that public health issues such as diabetic retinopathy require innovative and applicable evidence-based solutions. "Through this partnership, we are ready to contribute through UGM's expertise in developing service models, conducting implementation studies, and ensuring that interventions, particularly in the field of tele-ophthalmology and diabetic retinopathy management in accordance with current medical standards, can effectively and sustainably operate within our health service system," he said.
The President Director of Roche Indonesia, Sanaa Sayagh, emphasized the hope that this partnership can protect the visual health of the Indonesian people and ensure that patients can access the health services and solutions they need," said Sanaa. "We hope that the outcomes of this partnership can also contribute to accelerating health transformation and achieving the targets of the 2025-2030 Vision Health Roadmap."
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of visual impairment in Indonesia. Two out of five, or about 43.1 percent of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus experience this condition. Furthermore, global research data shows that around 29 percent of patients with diabetic retinopathy also experience Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)2, a further advanced form of retinal complication causing swelling in the macula and being one of the main causes of blindness due to diabetes.
Realizing the significant impact of DR, the newly-launched 2025-2030 Indonesian Vision Health Effort Roadmap sets several key targets to address this issue. The targets include retinal screening for at least 80 percent of individuals with diabetes, as well as providing appropriate treatment to at least 80 percent of individuals with DR. The use of digital health technology and tele-ophthalmology is an important strategy to improve early detection of diabetic retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema 2 cases.