Govt Traces 100% of Close Contacts of Patients to Accelerate TB Elimination by 2030

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesia's Ministry of Health is changing its tuberculosis (TB) control strategy by requiring 100 percent contact tracing of patients' families and close contacts. This aggressive measure is being taken to break the chain of transmission and accelerate Indonesia's TB elimination target by 2030.

Vice Minister of Health Benjamin Paulus Octavianus emphasized this new strategy while opening the 2026 National Tuberculosis Forum in Jakarta on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. "Those who are sick must be treated immediately, those who are not yet sick must be protected," Benjamin said.

According to him, tuberculosis management has tended to focus on treating patients who are already sick without eliminating the closest source of transmission. Through this new strategy, the Ministry of Health will expand close contact tracing by utilizing the Free Health Check Program (CKG), portable x-rays, and rapid tests.

He will also ensure the budget for tracing implementation in 2026 is ready. He also asked local governments, private health facilities, professional organizations, and community cadres to work together.

Indonesia currently remains on the list of countries with a significant tuberculosis burden. Based on 2024 data, Indonesia contributed approximately 10 percent of global tuberculosis cases, with an estimated 1.08 million people infected and 126,000 deaths due to the disease.

Closing the forum, Vice Health Minister Benjamin emphasized the four main pillars of accelerating TB elimination: massive case tracking through the Free Health Check Program (CKG), prompt treatment for patients, preventive therapy for close contacts, and strengthening cross-sector collaboration down to the village level. People experiencing TB symptoms or having had close contact with a patient are urged to immediately seek medical attention at the nearest community health center.