Jakarta, October 3, 2022

Heart disease is the most common cause of death in Indonesia. Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that heart disease has even become the disease with the highest cost in Indonesia.

"In terms of the cost burden of the government of the Republic of Indonesia (heart disease) is also the highest. So every year, the most BPJS claims are cardiovascular," said Minister of Health Budi at the peak of the commemoration of World Heart Day 2022 at the Southeast Plaza, Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Sunday (2/10).

In terms of costs, continued the Minister of Health, cardiovascular disease is the most common disease that makes people suffer. Heart or cardiovascular disease is also a disease that kills the most.

Currently, the government is working on an even distribution of cardiovascular specialists throughout Indonesia. The current condition is that out of 34 provinces, only 28 provinces can perform heart surgery.

“The tools already exist, the problem is that our specialist doctors are very short. We lack specialist doctors and thousands and even tens of thousands of our people die every year due to a shortage of doctors and a shortage of specialists," said the Minister of Health.

"So it is important for us to be together so that we can prevent from entering the hospital. The way to prevent it is that our behavior in life must be changed. Changed it by having to move a lot,” added the Minister of Health.

Minister of Health said Budi, the way to overcome the disease is through preventive promotions and routine physical activity, and maintaining a good diet.

“The focus should be on preventive promotive activities because when they enter the hospital, apart from being expensive for the patient, their quality of life also decreases. The most important preventive promotive activities are maintaining a diet and also maintaining physical activity," said the Minister of Health.

Overcoming the problem of heart disease cannot be exclusively carried out by the Ministry of Health, but it requires support from across ministries, institutions, and other related sectors.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi is ready to support in overcoming heart problems in Indonesia. He will help if needed with cross-sectoral cooperation abroad.

"If there is cooperation with foreign countries, we are ready to help so that Indonesian heart patients do not need to go abroad for treatment, but seek treatment here because the doctors are sophisticated, the equipment is sophisticated, and the service is good," said Foreign Minister Retno.

This news was broadcast by the Bureau of Communications and Public Services, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. For further information, please contact the Halo Ministry of Health hotline number via hotline 1500-567, SMS 081281562620, facsimile (021) 5223002, 52921669, and email address contact@kemkes.go.id (D2).

Head of Bureau of Communication and Public Service

dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, M. Epi