Endang Mulyani, Jakarta – Human Papillomavirus (HPV) cases in Indonesia remain high despite the availability of vaccines, largely due to delayed detection and the long-term accumulation of infections, a forum heard on Tuesday.
Health Ministry data shows that Indonesia records around 36,000 new HPV-related cancer cases annually, with more than 21,000 deaths.
Globally, HPV continues to pose a significant health risk. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were approximately 1.5 million new HPV-related cancer cases and 750,000 deaths in 2022, highlighting a substantial burden for both women and men.
WHO said eliminating cervical cancer requires three key interventions: vaccinating 90% of girls and boys against HPV, screening 70% of women aged 30-69 using HPV DNA-based tests, and ensuring 90% of women with pre-cancerous lesions or invasive cancer receive proper treatment.
At the event "Understanding HPV in Boys: Raising Health Awareness for Future Generations" in Jakarta on Tuesday, pediatrician and child development consultant Hartono Gunadi said high cancer rates in Indonesia are closely linked to low early detection and the cumulative nature of HPV infections.
"Cancer cases we see today are generally the result of infections that occurred 10 to 20 years ago. Vaccination protects those who receive it now, but it does not work retroactively," he said.
In response, the government has set a screening target of 75%, exceeding the WHO benchmark.
Dermatologist and venereologist Hanny Nilasari explained that HPV is transmitted through direct contact, including sexual contact, and is responsible for around 90% of cervical cancer cases.
"HPV is not something to be feared, but rather something to be prevented. The focus should be on stopping the infection from progressing into more serious disease," she said.
Indonesia's HPV immunization program now targets elementary school-aged children. Since 2025, the vaccination schedule has been simplified to a single dose for children aged 11, with catch-up programs for those aged 12 to 15.
However, coverage remains a challenge. Between 2023 and 2024, second-dose coverage fell below 90%, largely due to difficulties reaching out-of-school children. While the program initially targeted girls, the government plans to expand vaccination to boys between 2026 and 2027.
Health Ministry data shows cervical cancer – largely caused by HPV – is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Indonesia after breast cancer, with one woman estimated to die every 25 minutes.
Around 70% of cases are detected at an advanced stage, significantly increasing mortality risk.
Several Muslim-majority countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, have implemented gender-neutral HPV vaccination programs as part of their prevention strategies.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/lifestyle/late-detection-keeps-hpv-cancer-rates-high-in-indonesi