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The Government Reveals Three Strategies To Control Blood Cancer In Indonesia

Blood cancer, known medically as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, is gaining more attention in Indonesia. This is due to the rising number of cases in recent years among both children and adults.

According to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, over 400,000 people worldwide suffer from blood cancer, with more than 10,000 cases, particularly in children, reported in Indonesia. This situation poses a significant challenge for the healthcare sector, requiring comprehensive management.

To improve public health, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that the Indonesian government has implemented a six-pillar health transformation, which includes a focus on cancer treatment.

"This cancer issue needs urgent attention, so we have one focus and one strategy to concentrate all efforts and resources on early cancer detection," the Minister said on Saturday (November 23).

The Minister emphasized that early detection is crucial in cancer management as it can lower mortality rates, reduce treatment costs, and enhance the quality of life for patients.

To support this strategy, the government is enhancing healthcare facilities by distributing blood cancer screening tools across all health service centers in Indonesia.

So far, the government has provided hematology analyzers and blood chemical analyzers to over 10,000 community health centers in Indonesia, with a goal to complete the distribution of these medical devices by 2027.

"This equipment can be used for complete blood tests, allowing us to identify any anomalies that could indicate blood cancer at an earlier stage," the Minister added.

At the urban and hospital levels, the government has sent PCR testing equipment for molecular biology tests, which are not available at community health centers.

At the provincial level, the government plans to build public health laboratories in 514 districts and cities across 34 provinces. These laboratories will be equipped with the latest PCR machines and X-ray technology.

"The reason we need this equipment for cancer detection is that we want to go beyond just checking blood and proteins. In the future, we aim to have the latest testing technologies, such as tumor cells and DNA," said the Minister of Health.

Despite the government's strategic measures, challenges remain, such as low public awareness about the importance of early detection and treatment of blood cancer. Many new blood cancer cases are diagnosed at advanced stages.

Additionally, there are limitations in facilities in some areas and the high cost of blood cancer treatment, which remains a burden for many.

To address these issues, the government is equipping all hospitals with adequate diagnostic tools.

Advanced diagnostic equipment like digital pathology and flow cytometry has been distributed to hospitals in 514 districts and cities, SPECT-CT to hospitals in 34 provinces, and PET CT Scan to 16 vertical hospitals under the Ministry of Health.

"This is the government's initiative to enhance the healthcare sector's ability to screen and diagnose cancer, especially blood cancer," explained the Minister of Health.

Regarding cancer treatment, the Minister stated that the government encourages all hospitals to adopt a multidisciplinary approach in handling cancer cases.

From an infrastructure perspective, starting next year, the government will also distribute cytotoxic drug safety cabinets for chemotherapy to 514 districts and cities, as well as radiotherapy and linear accelerators (LINAC) to 34 provinces.

Tag: Blood Cancer Budi Gunadi Sadikin Leukemia