Director General of Advanced Health Services at the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Azhar Jaya, MD, stated that cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, and uronephrology are the four leading causes of death and healthcare costs in Indonesia.
Among these, the government is prioritizing five types of cancer: breast cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and childhood cancer.
“Although childhood cancers account for only 3–5% of total cases, they are highly curable with proper diagnosis, treatment, and support,” he said during the opening of the 2025 Summer Course at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK UGM) on Monday (Jul. 14).
The director explained that childhood cancer survival rates reach up to 80% in high-income countries. However, in middle-income countries, survival rates remain significantly lower due to limited access to cancer care services.
To address this issue, the Ministry of Health is working to expand access to referral services through the National Cancer Network, with a target of achieving 100% coverage in all regencies and cities by 2027.
The ministry also aims to accelerate the development of referral hospitals for the four major catastrophic diseases. The vision includes having at least one advanced or top-tier hospital in each of the 34 provinces and at least one intermediate-tier hospital in all 514 districts and cities.
“We’re targeting 50% regency/city coverage by 2025 and 100% by 2027,” he added.
Director Jaya emphasized that the Ministry of Health is collaborating with both local and international partners to achieve equitable cancer care nationwide.
“This will enable cancer treatment that is more accurate and sustainable for all Indonesians, wherever they may live,” he said.
Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at FK-KMK UGM, Dr. Ahmad Hamim Sadewa, MD, highlighted the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in addressing the complex challenges of cancer care.
“We recognize that interprofessional behavior and collaboration are crucial. Doctors or nurses alone can’t provide optimal care for patients,” he stated.
According to Dr. Sadewa, comprehensive cancer care ideally involves a team of professionals, including doctors, nurses, psychologists, pharmacists, and nutritionists. This collaborative approach has already been implemented at FK-KMK UGM and Dr. Sardjito General Hospital as a model of interprofessional teamwork for holistic cancer case management.
Echoing this, Dr. Dyah Ayu Mira Oktarina, MD, Chair of the Summer Course Committee, also emphasized the importance of an integrative approach to cancer care. She noted that cancer treatment must be continuous and sustainable.
“Integrative care not only connects people but also links systems and disciplines. Therefore, collaboration is essential to realize deeply integrated care management,” she explained.
Dr. Dwi Aris Agung Nugrahaningsih, MD, Head of the Internationalization Team at FK-KMK UGM, added that cancer was chosen as the central theme of this year’s summer course due to its ongoing status as a major health challenge in Indonesia, particularly due to disparities in healthcare access between remote and urban areas.
“The challenges are more complex compared to developed countries with centralized healthcare maps. We hope participants of this Summer Course can discuss and compare best practices from other countries,” she said.
The 2025 Summer Course is once again jointly organized by FK-KMK UGM, the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Faculty of Psychology, and the Faculty of Dentistry at Universitas Gadjah Mada. This year’s program is titled Integrative Cancer Management: A Roadmap to Better Outcomes.
Over two weeks, participants from various countries will engage in presentations, field visits, group discussions, and laboratory practicums. The event features speakers from eight national institutions and ten international institutions, including those from Germany, Taiwan, Thailand, and other ASEAN countries.
Author and Post-editor: Kezia Dwina Nathania
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Donnie