RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has declared the acceleration of tuberculosis (TB) elimination a national emergency, following the high rate of transmission and death from the disease.

At the 2026 World Tuberculosis Day Media Meeting held in Jakarta, Monday, April 6, 2026, Vice Minister of Health, Benjamin Paulus Octavianus, revealed that every minute two people are infected with TB and every four minutes one person dies in Indonesia.

"Tuberculosis remains a major challenge. It is not only a health issue, but also related to social, economic, nutritional, and environmental factors," the Vice Minister of Health said.

Indonesia records more than 1 million TB cases annually, making it one of the countries with the highest TB burden in the world. In response, the government is pushing for rapid action through massive early detection, including the Free Health Check Program, with a target of reaching 130 million people by 2026.

Additionally, other strategies being strengthened include close contact tracing, providing TB preventive therapy, and strengthening the role of the community and health workers.

"There's no time to delay. Every case found and treated is a life-saving step," Benjamin conveyed.

Global support is also continuing to be strengthened. WHO Indonesia Representative Setiawan Jati Laksono stated that Indonesia accounts for around 10% of the world's total TB cases. Data shows that by 2024, there will be around 118,000 deaths from tuberculosis in people without HIV and 8,100 deaths in people with HIV in Indonesia.

"TB remains a global threat. There has been progress, but it's not fast enough. Political commitment and national funding are crucial," he said.

WHO also highlighted major challenges, such as undiagnosed cases, drug-resistant TB, and risk factors like malnutrition, diabetes, and smoking. Nevertheless, hope remains through innovation, with more than 100 diagnostic tools, 29 TB drugs, and 18 vaccine candidates currently under development.