Congenital Heart Disease Crisis, 50 Thousand Children Born Every New Year 7,500 Handled

JAKARTA - Congenital heart disease (PJB) cases are still a serious challenge in the child's health care system in Indonesia. Every year, it is estimated that around 50 thousand babies are born with PJB conditions, but only a small part receive adequate medical treatment.

The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) revealed that until 2024, the total intervention services for PJB either through surgery or non-surgery procedures only reached around 7,500 cases per year.

In fact, of the total number of babies born with CHD, around 12 thousand are classified as critical cases that require immediate treatment so as not to lead to an early death risk.

"This means that thousands of children still do not have access to proper services and are at risk of losing their future," said Rizky Adriansyah, Head of the IDAI Coordinated Work Unit (UKK) at a press conference in Jakarta, as quoted by ANTARA.

Rizky highlighted the large inequality in the distribution of children's heart services in various parts of Indonesia. Several provinces do not even have child's heart surgery facilities at all. On the other hand, the need for handling continues to increase.

In addition to the lack of infrastructure, facilities in the regions are also often not equipped with a special ICU for children's heart (Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit/PCICU), cath-labs that are according to standards, as well as essential drug supplies such as prostaglandin IV.

The number of trained medical personnel, especially pediatricians, is still very limited to only about 105 people throughout Indonesia. For comparison, the United States produces around 90 new specialists every year, while in Indonesia it only increases by 4'6 doctors per year.

To overcome this crisis, IDAI launched various strategic programs. One of them is PJB's early screening and detection training for primary health workers such as general practitioners, nurses, and midwives. In addition, the Indonesian Newborn Pulse Oximetry Screening Training (INPOST) program was also introduced to strengthen initial detection capabilities in first-level health facilities.

IDAI is also expanding basic ecocardiographic training for pediatricians throughout Indonesia, as well as running structural intervention programs such as Flying Doctor andATANship, where regional hospitals are accompanied by senior child heart specialists so that they can handle PJB cases independently. To date, more than 15 provincial and vertical hospitals have received this support.

These steps are also in line with President Prabowo Subianto's big mission within the framework of AstaCita, which places strengthening health services and improving human resources as one of the top priorities.

Rizky emphasized IDAI's readiness to strengthen collaboration with the Ministry of Health and local governments for equal distribution of children's heart services.

"Every Indonesian child has the right to a fast, fair, and quality heart service wherever they are born," said Rizky.

He also invited all elements of the nation, from the central and regional governments, hospitals, professional organizations, to the wider community, to jointly build a stronger, just and sustainable child heart service system. According to him, saving the children's heart today means protecting the nation's future.