Tuberculosis Care in Indonesia: A Financial Analysis of Strategic Purchasing in Medan

By Charmi Patel

June 24, 2024

Introduction

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Effective TB control requires not only robust clinical interventions but also efficient health financing mechanisms. Traditional payment models, such as fixed capitation payments, often fall short in addressing the complexities and costs associated with TB diagnosis and treatment. Despite 88.6% National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme (Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional) coverage, 38.4% of TB-affected households face catastrophic costs, with out-of-pocket spending exceeding 20% of income due to high TB service expenses, over-referrals to hospitals, and gaps in coverage.

Financial Impact Analysis

Experts developed a budget impact model to assess the cost-effectiveness of strategic purchasing in improving TB reporting and treatment success rates. The model predicts a substantial increase in TB reporting by 63% and successful treatments by 64% under strategic purchasing. Consequently, this would lead to a 60% rise in total spending on TB care. Yet, the cost per patient is expected to drop by 3% with care shifting to cost-effective primary healthcare settings, reflecting increased diagnostic costs.

Results and Implications

The analysis indicates that while strategic purchasing may initially raise overall spending on TB care, it can significantly enhance TB care in Indonesia. By identifying more cases, treating them more effectively, and consequently reducing the cost per patient, strategic purchasing offers a promising avenue for improving TB care delivery. The model projects a 64% surge in TB case notifications and a 64.5% boost in successful treatment under strategic purchasing, thereby leading to advancement of cost-effective care and improving health outcomes.

Table 2: Comparison between the current and proposed scenarios, showing the impact on vertical referrals, confirmed TB cases notified, and TB patients completing treatment.
Table 1: Comparison between the current and proposed scenarios, showing the impact on vertical referrals, confirmed TB cases notified, and TB patients completing treatment.

 

Figure 3: The cost-effectiveness of the proposed strategic health purchasing approach under different scenarios of treatment success rates.
Figure 1: The cost-effectiveness of the proposed strategic health purchasing approach under different scenarios of treatment success rates.

 

Table 5: This table breaks down the costs for different payers (NHI, central and local government, Global Fund, and out-of-pocket) under the current and proposed scenarios, highlighting the financial implications of the new approach.
Table 2: This table breaks down the costs for different payers (NHI, central and local government, Global Fund, and out-of-pocket) under the current and proposed scenarios, highlighting the financial implications of the new approach.

Conclusion

In conclusion, strategic purchasing presents a viable strategy to address Indonesia’s TB burden effectively. By incentivising primary healthcare providers and promoting efficient care, this approach transforms TB accessibility, treatment effectiveness, and cost-efficiency. Furthermore, the financial analysis emphasises strategic purchasing benefits, stressing aligning incentives with quality care for sustainable TB control strategies.

Reference url

Recent Posts

Urgent Care Effectiveness: Exploring Canadian Centre Models and Health System Impacts

By João L. Carapinha

August 12, 2025

Urgent care effectiveness has become a central question for Canada’s health systems as policymakers look for tangible ways to relieve emergency department (ED) overcrowding and improve timely access to care. Many people want to know: Do urgent care centres actually help reduce pressure on hospita...
Enhancing Benefit Assessments: Insights from IQWiG Real-World Data Report

By João L. Carapinha

August 11, 2025

How will the IQWiG real-world data report (linked below) change drug benefit assessments in Germany? The new IQWiG real‑world data report sets a formal framework for how real-world data (RWD) supports non-randomized comparative studies underpinning benefit assessments under §35a SGB V. By stan...
Donanemab Alzheimer’s Approval: A New Era in Treatment

By João L. Carapinha

August 8, 2025

The EMA granted marketing authorization for donanemab, a monoclonal antibody targeting beta-amyloid plaques. It treats early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia with confirmed amyloid pathology). This approval highlights donanemab's role in Alzheimer's trea...