Indonesia faces serious challenges in cancer management with more than 400,000 new cases and 230,000 cancer deaths each year. To address this issue, the Ministry of Health organized the Indonesia International Cancer Conference (IICC) 2024 in Nusa Dua, Bali. The event, which runs from October 1 to 3, was opened by the Minister of Health, Budi G. Sadikin, with the theme “Bridging North and South in Accelerating Cancer Control Advancement.”

IICC provides a strategic platform for global health leaders and experts to discuss the pressing issue of unequal access to cancer care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Through knowledge exchange, development partnerships and technology transfer, the conference aims to strengthen global efforts in cancer control.

Minister of Health Budi G. Sadikin emphasized that the conference was not just a place to share ideas, but also a call to action. “IICC is an invitation to collaborate and act together in the fight against cancer. Our strength lies in unity, knowledge sharing, and collective action,” said Budi.

In the IICC series, the Directorate General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices (Farmalkes) also held a talk show themed “Advancing Palliative Care Through Collaboration and Policy Reform.” The Director General of Pharmaceuticals attended as one of the speakers, highlighting the importance of cancer pain management and palliative care.

The Director General of Pharmaceuticals explained that opioids play an important role in palliative care. Opioids, such as morphine and oxycodone, help control pain in cancer patients. To ensure the availability of these drugs, the Ministry of Health has established a National Formulary that includes eight types of narcotic analgesics, including fentanyl, codeine, and hydromorphone. “All these products have been registered with BPOM, but we still face challenges in ensuring their distribution in health facilities,” said the Director General of Pharmaceuticals.” ujar Dirjen Farmalkes.

In addition to the talk show, Directorate General of Pharmaceuticals also participated in an exhibition involving more than 20 pharmaceutical companies and medical devices related to cancer treatment. The exhibition was held together with the Directorate General of Health Services, the Center for Health Data and Information, the Center for Health Financing and Decentralization Policy, and the Biomedical Genome Science Initiative (BGSi).

Through IICC 2024, Indonesia demonstrates its commitment to accelerate progress in cancer control, not only at the national level but also globally.