Tackling Tuberculosis in Indonesia with Shorter, More Effective, Cost-Efficient Therapy

For years, MDR-TB treatment in Indonesia involved a grueling 18 to 24-month regimen, with costs ranging from US$7,000 to US$11,000 per patient and only 59% success. That’s not just a heavy burden for the healthcare system; it’s a devastating strain on families and communities affected by TB. But the tides are turning, with the implementation of BPaL: a six-month, all-oral regimen composed of bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid. Endorsed by the World Health Organization, BPaL is now being put to the test in real-world settings and resulting in more treatment successes and lower costs. 

A new study analyzed data from 2021-2024, looking 84 people treated for drug-resistant TB at Persahabatan Hospital in Jakarta. Findings included:

• Treatment costs with BPaL were 67% lower than previous treatment options 

• Treatment success with BPaL jumped 18.4%. 

• The cost of achieving one additional successful treatment with BPaL was just a bit over $300, showing that it’s a highly cost-efficient option compared to previous treatment options. 

Improved treatment outcomes and reduced costs mean more lives saved and improved and increased ability to scale treatment for all. Continued expansion of BPaL could radically improve MDR-TB control in Indonesia and serve as a model for the global fight against tuberculosis.  

Driven by the leadership of Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Indonesia has previously expressed a committment to continue serving as a leader in combating TB globally. Just recently Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to ending TB and other mycobacterial diseases, including through the development and implementation of innovative new treatments that dramatically simplify and improve TB care, its Ministry of Health announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with TB Alliance, the developer of the BPaL regimen.