Tuberculosis in Indonesia: challenges and future directions

Globally, Indonesia has the second-highest tuberculosis burden and the second-largest gap between estimated incidence and reported cases.¹ Achieving the WHO End Tuberculosis Strategy milestones,¹ and 2027 targets set at the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting remains challenging.² Between 2015 and 2023, the estimated tuberculosis incidence increased by 19%, and deaths increased by 26% in Indonesia.¹ In 2020, 38% of affected households faced catastrophic costs (ie, direct medical costs [eg, for medical visits, diagnostic tests, medication], direct non-medical costs [eg, transportation, food, and accommodation], and indirect costs [eg, due to job loss and reduced productivity]), contrary to the WHO target of 0% by 2020.¹ In 2023, 61% of patients with tuberculosis were initially tested with WHO-recommended rapid tests, which is below the 100% target for 2027.¹ Although treatment coverage improved (77% in 2023 vs 90% target by 2027),³ tuberculosis preventive therapy coverage remains low (2·6% in 2023),¹ which is markedly lower than the 90% target set by WHO for 2027.³