Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesian Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono on February 4 said the government has unveiled the National Cancer Action Plan 2024–2034, aimed at addressing the rising incidence of cancer and alleviating the growing burden on the healthcare system.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally and in Indonesia, with 408,661 new cases and 242,988 deaths recorded per year. The government is trying to strengthen cancer control with more focus and direction by launching the 2024–2034 National Action Plan for Cancer, Dante said.
The Action Plan prioritises to handle four priority cancers, including eradicating cervical cancer and lessening the severity of breast, lung, and colon cancers, among other.
The national action plan also includes early prevention through the free health screening programme that will be run by the government from this year.
In the cervical cancer elimination action plan until 2030, some 90% of females and males aged 15 should receive the vaccine, and 75% of all females aged 30 to 69 should undergo screening using a high-performance test (DNA HPV).
According to Dante, if more adequate early prevention is not carried out, the burden of cancer could increase by more than 70%, which could burden the health sector, society, and communities.
He added that detecting cancer in its early stages increases the chances of success and can even affect overall recovery./.
