Indonesia continues to face challenges in its fight against tuberculosis (TB), particularly in identifying and reporting every case. Despite progress, at least one in four people with TB in total remains unreported or undiagnosed, leaving over 140 000 people undiagnosed in 2023. There are gaps in reporting from private sector facilities, inconsistent data submission from puskesmas, limited digital infrastructure integration and suboptimal surveillance among vulnerable groups such as children, people living with HIV and those in correctional facilities. Combined with limited human resources, decentralized health governance and the absence of a national vital registration system, these challenges could slow Indonesia’s progress to eliminate TB by 2030.
With the second highest number of TB cases in the world, Indonesia has worked hard to catch up. Under-reporting has improved significantly, dropping from 41% in 2017 to 16% in 2023, and underdiagnosis has slightly decreased from 18% to 14%. The country’s main TB surveillance system, TB Information System (SITB), is now being integrated into the national health platform called Satu Sehat, which aims to streamline data collection and improve coordination across health services.
To assess and improve the nation’s TB surveillance and vital registration systems, Indonesia conducted its 2025 TB Epidemiological Review. Led by Indonesia’s National TB Programme and the World Health Organization (WHO), the review combined online meetings with in-person visits to health facilities. The first week involved virtual discussions with stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services, Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan), TB community group and experts. This was followed by a field visit to Jakarta from 27 May to 4 June 2025, where the team engaged directly with frontline health workers and observed how health facilities operates in practice.
The 2025 TB Epidemiological Review team visited Puskesmas Setiabudi, South Jakarta, and discussed with the laboratory officer regarding TB diagnosis recording. Credit: WHO/Yoana Anandita
Using WHO’s standards and benchmarks checklist, the review examined how consistently TB cases are defined, how complete the data is and how well the system captures information on vulnerable populations. The team reviewed key documents, analysed data and visited a range of health facilities - both public and private, and across different levels of care. These included facilities treating children, people with HIV and patients with drug-resistant TB.
The findings revealed that Indonesia has made meaningful progress. Data quality has improved, more facilities are using the SITB system, and TB case reporting is now linked with the national health insurance system through E-Klaim. Surveillance among children and people living with HIV has also strengthened. However, challenges remain. Not all health facilities are fully connected to digital systems, reporting is still incomplete in several areas and there is a lack of functional nation-wide vital registration system.
These gaps have real consequences. When people with TB are missed, they don’t receive the treatment they need, and the disease continues to spread. Without complete and reliable data, it’s also harder to allocate resources effectively and measure the impact of TB programmes. Addressing these issues is essential for Indonesia to meet its End TB Strategy goals by 2030.
During the debriefing session in Jakarta, Marek Lalli from WHO’s Global TB Programme noted that “reliable data is the backbone of an effective TB programme,” and praises the progress made while urging continued action.
Ina Agustina Isturini, Director of Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health, echoed this sentiment. “The findings align closely with our national priorities and we are committed to strengthening TB data systems, closing programmatic gaps and ensuring no one is left behind in our fight to end TB in Indonesia,” she said.
The review’s findings will play a key role in shaping the country’s next steps. They will inform updates Indonesia’s TB Strategic Plan and guide the upcoming TB Joint External Monitoring Mission in August 2025. By investing in better data systems, involving all parts of the health sector and focusing on those most at risk, Indonesia will continue progressing toward eliminating TB.
WHO's TB programme in Indonesia is supported by the Gates Foundation and the Global Fund.
Written by Yoana Anandita, National Consultant for TB, WHO Indonesia