Health Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) asked Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin to accelerate clinical trials and distribution of the Tuberculosis (TB) vaccine developed with the support of U.S. tycoon Bill Gates. 

This request was conveyed during a hearing with the House’s Commission IX, which discussed the evaluation of the free health check-up program (PKG), at the Senayan Parliament Complex on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

“I personally really hope that this TB vaccine can be realized,” Ahmad Ru’yat, legislatorfrom the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction, said.

He highlighted the urgency of handling TB which has infected more than one million Indonesians every year. He cited that there 134 thousand deaths in 2023 due to TB, or the equivalent of seven people dying every hour.

Ahmad assessed that the acceleration of TB vaccine distribution should imitate the procurement of the COVID-19 vaccine during the last pandemic. He emphasized the importance of transparency and acceleration of clinical trials of the vaccine so that it will be immediately available to the public.

"Let's say the COVID-19 pandemic is so fast in producing vaccines. What's the difference? Now TB is also deadly, it's just different because it's bacteria, not a virus," he said.

In the same meeting, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin mentioned the high level of public satisfaction with the government's current health programs. He said the success of a number of programs was an important factor behind the high electability of President Prabowo Subianto in the Kompas Research and Development survey.

"This program is the most decisive reason why pakPrabowo has the highest rating," Budi told the Commission IX members.

Budi cited the large scope of a number of health programs, including 24 million children in the stunting program, 79 million people in the immunization program, 82 million children receiving free nutritious food, 203 million people have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and 280 million people are covered by the PKG program.

He also cited that 85 percent of the public were satisfied with free health services, 74.6 percent were satisfied with the 50 percent decrease in TB cases in the last five years, and other satisfaction figures were high for education programs and school renovations.

However, the House's insistence on the TB vaccine indicates that there are still challenges in reaching unresolved health problems, including accelerating vaccine innovation and its distribution system to all levels of society.

"People are very sensitive to health issues," Budi concluded.