Ministry Reports 1,443 Shackle Cases Involving Schizophrenia Patients in Q1 2026

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) announced that approximately 1,443 cases of shackling (pemasungan) involving individuals with schizophrenia were recorded during the first quarter of 2026. The ministry stressed that these staggering figures underscore an urgent need to place human rights, healthcare access, and rehabilitation programs at the very center of public awareness and national policy.

Director of Health Services for Vulnerable Groups at the Ministry of Health, Imran Pambudi highlighted a deeply concerning upward trend in shackling reports over the consecutive years. Annual recorded cases rose from 981 in 2023 to 1,794 in 2024, before climbing further to 2,442 cases in 2025.

Imran clarified that shackling is far more than an outdated traditional custom that must be eradicated; it represents a severe violation of personal freedom and acts as a direct barrier preventing vulnerable citizens from accessing vital medical services. Regionally, East Java, East Nusa Tenggara, and North Sumatra have emerged as the provinces bearing the heaviest burden of reported shackle cases.

From an epidemiological standpoint, data from the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey (SKI) indicates that 4 out of every 1,000 households across the country have at least one family member living with psychosis or schizophrenia. While the vast majority of these patients actively seek clinical care, systemic fractures remain regarding the long-term continuity of their medical treatment.

"Around 10 percent do not take their medication regularly, and most worryingly, around 6.6 percent of household members with psychosis have experienced shackling," Imran stated in Jakarta on Monday, May 25, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

"These statements emphasize that the burden of disease is not only about prevalence, but also about access, continuity of treatment, and protection of human rights," he explained.

To systematically address these gaps, the Ministry of Health has outlined specific institutional targets and capacity milestones. Looking at primary care targets, the government aims to ensure that 100 percent of public health centers (puskesmas) nationwide are fully capable of providing mental health services by 2029.

In terms of current primary capacity, as of 2026, approximately 6,000 puskesmas, representing 58 percent of the national total, offer mental health services, though only 211 locations or two percent employ a dedicated clinical psychologist.

Additionally, examining secondary hospital capacity shows there are currently 1,450 hospitals across Indonesia capable of delivering mental health care, most of which are equipped with staff psychiatrists. Finally, despite this hospital-level coverage, systemic deficiencies remain as the Ministry acknowledges that access to mental health treatment at the primary care tier and the availability of social rehabilitation centers remain far from ideal.

The Ministry of Health reiterated that targeted interventions for schizophrenia are not merely clinical duties, but represent essential actions to safeguard basic human rights, prevent ongoing abuses, and actively invest in the socioeconomic recovery of affected families. Imran urged that the observance of World Schizophrenia Day in 2026 must serve as a decisive catalyst for systemic change.

"World Schizophrenia Day 2026 must be a turning point. As we end shackling, we must also ensure that every person with schizophrenia receives dignified care, accessible medication, and the opportunity to recover and contribute to the community," he concluded. ***