Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has made reducing tuberculosis (TB) cases a top public health priority, as Indonesia remains the world's second-largest contributor to global TB infections after India.
Deputy Health Minister Benyamin Paulus Octavianus said on Monday that President Prabowo is deeply concerned about Indonesia's high TB burden and has instructed the government to step up nationwide prevention and treatment efforts. The campaign is being positioned as a cornerstone of the administration's health agenda, alongside flagship programs such as free nutritious meals for schoolchildren and initiatives to reduce stunting.
"Indonesia ranks second globally. That is why the president has asked that TB reduction become a priority of his administration, with the clear goal of bringing the numbers down," Benyamin told reporters after meeting Prabowo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.
Indonesia ranks second globally for TB cases after India, according to the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025. The report estimates that 10.7 million people worldwide fell ill with TB in 2024, with 1.23 million deaths, making it one of the world's top 10 causes of death and the leading cause of mortality from a single infectious agent. Indonesia accounted for about 10% of global TB cases, placing it among the eight highest-burden countries that together represent two-thirds of worldwide infections.
Globally, the TB incidence rate stood at 131 cases per 100,000 people in 2024, with a case fatality rate of 11.5%. Health officials say Indonesia's push to curb TB is critical not only for domestic public health, but also for global efforts to reduce the disease, which remains concentrated in 30 high-burden countries accounting for 87% of cases worldwide.
In the past 120 days, Benyamin has visited 12 provinces to meet regional leaders and promote a more aggressive and integrated approach to TB management. The outreach is intended to strengthen early detection, treatment compliance, and public awareness. He said Indonesia must tackle TB with the same comprehensive strategy used during the Covid-19 pandemic, focusing on breaking chains of transmission.
"If the TB bacteria no longer exist, transmission will stop. As long as the bacteria are present, the disease will continue to spread," Benyamin said.
Beyond TB, Prabowo has also tasked the Health Ministry with overseeing the rollout of the free nutritious meals program, which has so far reached about 60 million beneficiaries. The government aims to expand coverage to 82.9 million people by the end of the year.
The initiative is expected to improve child nutrition and help lower stunting rates, which remain a key concern for Indonesia's long-term human capital development.
"If we can reduce stunting and improve children's nutrition, Indonesia's human resources will be much stronger in the future," Benyamin said.
According to global health data, Indonesia continues to face one of the heaviest TB burdens worldwide, making sustained political commitment critical to meeting international disease-reduction targets.