Snapshot of Non-Communicable Disease in Indonesia (Part 1)

Fahmi Alfansi P Pane

Since years before Covid-19 hit the world, there is awareness on how dangerous non-communicable diseases (NCD) in Indonesia. Hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, stroke, cancer, asthma, chronic kidney disease, just to mention among others.

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) was at the top. Refer to Indonesia Health Survey 2023,? there was 1.7% of people suffering DM, but based on medical diagnosis people of 15 years or more, the mean of prevalence of DM was 2.2%. Some provinces had higher rate than the mean, such as Yogyakarta (you may surprise with the figure of other NCDs) at 3.6%, Jakarta 3.9%, East Kalimantan 3.1%, Bangka Belitung 2.8%, and so on. The prevalence of DM for highest income group reached at 3.3%, and the others below.

Actually, prevalence of asthma was higher than DM. The mean was 1.6%. But, some provinces suffered higher, for example Yogyakarta 3.5% (the highest), West Java and East Kalimantan 2.4%, Jakarta and Banten 1.9%, and so forth. Interestingly, prevalence of the highest income group outnumbered the lowest one. The first reached 2.1%, but the latter 1.5%. Why? Big question for Government of Indonesia, including regional government that will be elected today (November 27).