DBS Asian Insights Conference 2022: Ministry of Health prepares for health service transition towards endemic status | Bahasa
Ministry of Health to transform health services, health financing system and human resources
Bank DBS Indonesia shares insights into Omicron, vaccination, and Covid-19 pandemic management
Indonesia, 24 Feb 2022 - Bank DBS Indonesia holds another DBS Asian Insights Conference from February to March. The conference, which takes “Economy and Environment: Towards a Revolutionary Future” as its theme, is divided into four sessions. The first session of the annual conference discusses “The Road to Endemic - Finding Normal in New Normal” and opens with a keynote speech from Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Budi Gunadi Sadikin. The session presents Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control and Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Health, microbiology expert at Universitas Indonesia Prof. dr. Amin Soebandrio, Ph.D, and Former Director of Infectious Diseases WHO Southeast Asia and Director of Postgraduate School of YARSI University Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama to give insights into the fast-spreading Omicron variant, pandemic control measures, and the government’s steps to support the recovery of various sectors in Indonesia.
Paulus Sutisna, President Director of PT Bank DBS Indonesia, said, “It is an honor for Bank DBS Indonesia to have various experts in the health sector sharing information with people in the first session of DBS Asian Insights Conference 2022. We are optimistic that if the vaccination programme goes smoothly and the pandemic situation is well-controlled, the purchasing power will progressively return to normal, and employment opportunities and production levels will increase, bringing significant benefits to Indonesia’s economy. This is part of the core of DBS Bank’s vision of being the Best Bank for a Better World to contribute positively to a better world.”
For the last two years, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected people's lives, making people wonder if the pandemic will ever go away. The Singapore government has for the past several months been preparing for a shift towards a Covid-19 endemic status and pursuing a vaccination target of more than 80%. Currently, 83% of Singaporeans have been vaccinated. Indonesia is said to be ready to enter an endemic state as the number of new cases as well as the number of patients hospitalised with Covid-19 decreased in December 2021.
Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin said, “So far, Indonesia has been engulfed by two waves of Covid-19. A global mapping of the pandemic reveals that many countries have been hit by the fourth wave of Covid-19, with the number of positive cases three to six times higher than in the previous three waves. Needless to say, Indonesia has not been spared as the virus knows no boundaries. The Ministry of Health has set out six pillars of health transformation to deal with Covid-19, namely transformation of basic health services, transformation of the health sector, transformation of the financing system, transformation of human resources, as well as transformation of the health technology system."
Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control and Spokesperson of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, believes that a concerted effort encompassing upstream and downstream measures is needed to deal with Covid-19. In case of early detection, public education about Covid-19 and preventive actions are taken as part of an upstream strategy in the initial phase to curb Covid-19 transmissions. A downstream strategy is the procedure for when a person is tested positive for Covid-19. The transformation of the basic health services is expected to help health facilities in Indonesia to better handle Covid-19 cases, supported by qualified resources.
Siti Nadia Tarmizi explained that compared with the wave of the Delta variant in mid-2021, with the number of people testing positive for Covid-19 peaked at 56,000, the government has noted that the number of Omicron cases reached 64,700 in the middle of February 2022. This has caused concern among the Indonesian citizens. However, the government said it will continue to monitor the trend and pattern of the Omicron variant and is confident that its transmission can be curbed.
“Needless to say, we must be prepared and remain alert for a third wave considering the upward trend in the number of people who tested positive for Covid-19. After the first and second waves of Covid-19, and in view of the development in and the measures taken by other countries, we have come to better understand the transmission patterns of Covid-19, particularly the Omicron variant. If the second wave caused 2,500 deaths, the daily death rate caused by the Omicron variant is way lower, at 180. In terms of Hospital Bed Occupancy Rate (BOR), the occupancy rate during the Delta wave was 60%. Currently, the hospital occupancy rate is 30%. So, in terms of case handling, an emergency action is not yet required although the government has maintained restrictions on mobility and Level 3 restrictions on public activity (PPKM Level 3), accelerating vaccination, testing, and tracing,” said Siti Nadia Tarmizi.
Universitas Indonesia microbiologist Prof. dr. Amin Soebandrio, Ph.D. said that the Omicron variant that has been spreading since November of 2021 has no correlation with the Delta variant that caused the second wave. However, the Omicron variant has a higher number of mutations compared with the other variants of the virus, making Omicron more adaptive to its surroundings and increasing the probability of transmission. In spite of that, not every mutation is beneficial for the virus. In the case of Omicron, mutations eventually cause lower morbidity and less severe clinical symptoms.
“Basically, the risk of infection follows a certain formula, namely viral malignancy multiplied by virus dose, and divided by immunity rate. Immunity is developed through vaccines while natural immunity is acquired when a person is exposed to the virus. According to a study by Universitas Indonesia’s Faculty of Public Health, the Ministry of Health and the Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology, more than 70% of Indonesia’s population have developed an antibody even though they have never tested positive for Covid-19 or have not been fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, 90% of the Covid-19 infected population and the vaccinated population have acquired an antibody. This shows that Indonesians have developed an immunity towards the virus,” Prof. dr. Amin Soebandrio, Ph.D. said.
Former Director of Infectious Diseases WHO Southeast Asia and Director of Postgraduate School of YARSI University Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama said, “Corona viruses will continue to exist with the possibility of mutating to other variants in the future. Therefore, we should remain vigilant. Although the death rate due to Omicron is lower than the Delta variant, and the symptoms are not as severe as the previous waves, deaths (due to the Omicron variant) still occur. As the life of every Indonesian is priceless, the government should issue adaptive policies by considering experts’ suggestions to curb the rate of infection."
Prof. dr. Amin Soebandrio, Ph.D explained that as shown by other countries, peak cases of Covid-19, especially the Omicron variant, appeared within two to three months after the first case was detected. Therefore, the government should monitor the public’s mobility, especially during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, to prevent massive gatherings. If this is successfully carried out along with other efforts, Indonesia is expected to see a peak in Covid-19 cases in March 2022.
Siti Nadia Tarmizi believes that the transition from pandemic to endemic phase is not a unilateral decision as it requires an official announcement from the WHO. Therefore, what can be done now is to implement policies that can balance health interests with economic interests so that Indonesia can continue to grow financially.
“Entering the recovery stage in the midst of a new normal requires great teamwork involving many parties. The government and the Ministry of Health are committed to accelerating and widening the vaccination coverage and maintaining the 3T (Testing, Tracing, and Treatment) strategy. We also expect the public’s contribution through adherence to the health protocols and the 5M protocol, namely menjaga jarak (keep your distance), mencuci tangan (wash your hands), memakai masker (wear your mask), membatasi mobilitas (restrict your mobility), and menjauhi kerumunan (stay away from the crowd). These measures are crucial to deal with any Covid-19 variant. We are optimistic that through public collaboration, Indonesia will rise again,” Budi Gunadi Sadikin said.
The Asian Insights Conference is Bank DBS Indonesia’s annual conference that brings together leaders with a global mindset to discuss the opportunities and challenges of change in Indonesia, especially in the recovery period and the new normal phase in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The conference aims at providing business owners, investors, and the wider public with an overview of the government’s management of the pandemic as well as Indonesia’s and global economic conditions. The conference is expected to transform worries and doubts into actions and strategic decisions regarding future business directions.
Information on Asian Insights Conference 2022 is available on Instagram: @dbsbankid and here.
Paulus Sutisna, President Director of PT Bank DBS Indonesia, said, “It is an honor for Bank DBS Indonesia to have various experts in the health sector sharing information with people in the first session of DBS Asian Insights Conference 2022. We are optimistic that if the vaccination programme goes smoothly and the pandemic situation is well-controlled, the purchasing power will progressively return to normal, and employment opportunities and production levels will increase, bringing significant benefits to Indonesia’s economy. This is part of the core of DBS Bank’s vision of being the Best Bank for a Better World to contribute positively to a better world.”
For the last two years, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected people's lives, making people wonder if the pandemic will ever go away. The Singapore government has for the past several months been preparing for a shift towards a Covid-19 endemic status and pursuing a vaccination target of more than 80%. Currently, 83% of Singaporeans have been vaccinated. Indonesia is said to be ready to enter an endemic state as the number of new cases as well as the number of patients hospitalised with Covid-19 decreased in December 2021.
Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin said, “So far, Indonesia has been engulfed by two waves of Covid-19. A global mapping of the pandemic reveals that many countries have been hit by the fourth wave of Covid-19, with the number of positive cases three to six times higher than in the previous three waves. Needless to say, Indonesia has not been spared as the virus knows no boundaries. The Ministry of Health has set out six pillars of health transformation to deal with Covid-19, namely transformation of basic health services, transformation of the health sector, transformation of the financing system, transformation of human resources, as well as transformation of the health technology system."
Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control and Spokesperson of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, believes that a concerted effort encompassing upstream and downstream measures is needed to deal with Covid-19. In case of early detection, public education about Covid-19 and preventive actions are taken as part of an upstream strategy in the initial phase to curb Covid-19 transmissions. A downstream strategy is the procedure for when a person is tested positive for Covid-19. The transformation of the basic health services is expected to help health facilities in Indonesia to better handle Covid-19 cases, supported by qualified resources.
Siti Nadia Tarmizi explained that compared with the wave of the Delta variant in mid-2021, with the number of people testing positive for Covid-19 peaked at 56,000, the government has noted that the number of Omicron cases reached 64,700 in the middle of February 2022. This has caused concern among the Indonesian citizens. However, the government said it will continue to monitor the trend and pattern of the Omicron variant and is confident that its transmission can be curbed.
“Needless to say, we must be prepared and remain alert for a third wave considering the upward trend in the number of people who tested positive for Covid-19. After the first and second waves of Covid-19, and in view of the development in and the measures taken by other countries, we have come to better understand the transmission patterns of Covid-19, particularly the Omicron variant. If the second wave caused 2,500 deaths, the daily death rate caused by the Omicron variant is way lower, at 180. In terms of Hospital Bed Occupancy Rate (BOR), the occupancy rate during the Delta wave was 60%. Currently, the hospital occupancy rate is 30%. So, in terms of case handling, an emergency action is not yet required although the government has maintained restrictions on mobility and Level 3 restrictions on public activity (PPKM Level 3), accelerating vaccination, testing, and tracing,” said Siti Nadia Tarmizi.
Universitas Indonesia microbiologist Prof. dr. Amin Soebandrio, Ph.D. said that the Omicron variant that has been spreading since November of 2021 has no correlation with the Delta variant that caused the second wave. However, the Omicron variant has a higher number of mutations compared with the other variants of the virus, making Omicron more adaptive to its surroundings and increasing the probability of transmission. In spite of that, not every mutation is beneficial for the virus. In the case of Omicron, mutations eventually cause lower morbidity and less severe clinical symptoms.
“Basically, the risk of infection follows a certain formula, namely viral malignancy multiplied by virus dose, and divided by immunity rate. Immunity is developed through vaccines while natural immunity is acquired when a person is exposed to the virus. According to a study by Universitas Indonesia’s Faculty of Public Health, the Ministry of Health and the Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology, more than 70% of Indonesia’s population have developed an antibody even though they have never tested positive for Covid-19 or have not been fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, 90% of the Covid-19 infected population and the vaccinated population have acquired an antibody. This shows that Indonesians have developed an immunity towards the virus,” Prof. dr. Amin Soebandrio, Ph.D. said.
Former Director of Infectious Diseases WHO Southeast Asia and Director of Postgraduate School of YARSI University Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama said, “Corona viruses will continue to exist with the possibility of mutating to other variants in the future. Therefore, we should remain vigilant. Although the death rate due to Omicron is lower than the Delta variant, and the symptoms are not as severe as the previous waves, deaths (due to the Omicron variant) still occur. As the life of every Indonesian is priceless, the government should issue adaptive policies by considering experts’ suggestions to curb the rate of infection."
Prof. dr. Amin Soebandrio, Ph.D explained that as shown by other countries, peak cases of Covid-19, especially the Omicron variant, appeared within two to three months after the first case was detected. Therefore, the government should monitor the public’s mobility, especially during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, to prevent massive gatherings. If this is successfully carried out along with other efforts, Indonesia is expected to see a peak in Covid-19 cases in March 2022.
Siti Nadia Tarmizi believes that the transition from pandemic to endemic phase is not a unilateral decision as it requires an official announcement from the WHO. Therefore, what can be done now is to implement policies that can balance health interests with economic interests so that Indonesia can continue to grow financially.
“Entering the recovery stage in the midst of a new normal requires great teamwork involving many parties. The government and the Ministry of Health are committed to accelerating and widening the vaccination coverage and maintaining the 3T (Testing, Tracing, and Treatment) strategy. We also expect the public’s contribution through adherence to the health protocols and the 5M protocol, namely menjaga jarak (keep your distance), mencuci tangan (wash your hands), memakai masker (wear your mask), membatasi mobilitas (restrict your mobility), and menjauhi kerumunan (stay away from the crowd). These measures are crucial to deal with any Covid-19 variant. We are optimistic that through public collaboration, Indonesia will rise again,” Budi Gunadi Sadikin said.
The Asian Insights Conference is Bank DBS Indonesia’s annual conference that brings together leaders with a global mindset to discuss the opportunities and challenges of change in Indonesia, especially in the recovery period and the new normal phase in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The conference aims at providing business owners, investors, and the wider public with an overview of the government’s management of the pandemic as well as Indonesia’s and global economic conditions. The conference is expected to transform worries and doubts into actions and strategic decisions regarding future business directions.
Information on Asian Insights Conference 2022 is available on Instagram: @dbsbankid and here.
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