Non-Communicable Diseases Account for the Most Deaths in Indonesia

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has compiled the number of deaths based on their causes. This data was collected from January 1, 2017, to 2020/2022, during the long-form census.

Overall, the number of deaths reached 8.07 million cases during that period. Of these, the most common cause was non-communicable diseases, with 7.03 million cases.

Meanwhile, other causes included communicable diseases, totaling 231,000 cases. Traffic accidents also contributed a significant number of deaths, namely 131,000 cases.

The next leading cause of death was accidents outside of traffic, or other accidents, with 95,000 cases.

Poisoning also resulted in a considerable number of cases, namely 13,000. Other causes of death totaled 565,000 cases.

The high number of deaths due to non-communicable diseases has prompted the Ministry of Health to adopt a COVID-19 control strategy to prevent the increase in cases of these diseases. The Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, stated that non-communicable diseases now dominate among patients.

"The strategy for non-communicable diseases is the same as for COVID-19: promotion, surveillance, and therapy will continue to be implemented," said Budi in a working meeting with Commission IX of the DPR RI on Tuesday (24/1/2023), as quoted by Antaranews.

Budi added that the strategy involves strengthening the role of health promotion at the primary service level, such as at community health centers (Puskesmas).

This program is carried out in conjunction with more aggressive health screenings using the latest technology for 14 diseases, including stroke, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, heart disease, tuberculosis, and others.

"The 14 screening programs in Puskesmas and Posyandu are already underway. Several new technologies, such as for cervical cancer—previously using Pap smears or IVA tests—are now being implemented using HPV DNA testing, which is far better and utilizes existing laboratories in Indonesia," he said.

(See also: Stroke and Tuberculosis Among Top 10 Leading Causes of Death in Indonesia)