Tuberculosis | Lack of Program Implementation Causing TB Discrimination at Workplaces in Indonesia, Advocates Say

February 22, 2008

Poor implementation of a program designed to fight tuberculosis in Indonesian companies is causing discrimination against workers living with the disease, health advocates said recently at the Coalition for a Healthy Indonesia's TB seminar, the Jakarta Post reports. Although the workplace program was introduced two years ago, no companies have established the recommended TB management task force, advocates said. The Ministry of Health said a lack of funds has prevented the program from launching efficiently. Firman Lubis, the coalition's executive director, said dozens of business executives were invited to the seminar but none attended. "This shows that they have yet to take care of the health aspect of their employees," Firman said, adding, "We have received many complaints" that some companies have "dismissed workers who had the disease, while other firms sent workers home for special treatment." He also called on labor organizations to urge companies to improve health in the workplace, the Post reports. In an effort to address TB among workers, the Indonesian government plans to launch a DOTS program at 40 companies this year, Wayan Diantika, head of the health ministry's TB unit, said. Pilot projects will launch in Banten, East and West Java, East Kalimantan and South Sulawesi. Wayan said the government will provide no-cost drugs and training for health workers at companies that host pilot programs. There are about 600,000 recorded cases of TB in Indonesia annually and about 100,000 recorded deaths, according to the health ministry. Eighty percent of people who have TB in the country are between the "productive" ages of 15 and 55, Firman said (Simamora, Jakarta Post, 2/22).