VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Ministry of Health and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are working with several hospitals to strengthen the integrated information system for identifying tuberculosis (TB).

"We can handle TB in Indonesia thoroughly with cross-sectoral support and synergy, including through hospitals that have extensive networks in regions, such as Siloam Hospitals and other private hospitals that have been recognized. The (TB) handling also needs support from the community," the ministry's Director General of Disease Prevention and Control Maxi Rein Rondonuwu noted in a statement on Monday.

Rondonuwu remarked that TB could be handled maximally through cross-sectoral synergy and cooperation.

Deputy Director of the USAID Health Office for Indonesia, David Stanton, deemed it crucial to address the problem of unidentified TB cases.

According to Stanton, the private sector plays a key role in supporting Indonesia's goal of identifying TB patients.

A strong health information system is essential to ensure that all TB patients are reported and receive quality TB treatment.

Stanton explained that the United States, through USAID, supports the Health Ministry's ONE HEALTH integrated health information system vision by connecting hospitals' information systems with the TB information system. The system allows TB cases to be reported and treated.

Siloam Hospitals, as a health service with 41 hospital networks, is also committed to the synergy of cooperation with the Ministry of Health by connecting hospital information systems with the TB information system to accelerate TB elimination.

The commitment is realized through the Cooperation Agreement for Strengthening Tuberculosis Control Implementation with Managements of Big Chain Hospitals.

Director of Siloam Hospitals, Grace F. Indradjaja, stated that from all of its hospital networks, Siloam Hospitals had treated over three thousand TB patients, and 10 thousand TB patients are currently undergoing outpatient treatment.

"Technically, the most (frequent) TB treatment problem handled by Siloam Hospitals is the handling of TB drugs because, on average, patients do not take drugs regularly," she remarked.

In 2021, as many as 443,235 confirmed TB cases were reported in Indonesia, and in children, the figure stood at 42,187 cases. (antaranews)