Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has revealed a dramatic increase in kidney failure cases across the nation, with treatment costs covered by the national health insurance scheme BPJS Kesehatan surging by 476.2 percent over the past five years.
The minister disclosed this alarming trend during a working meeting with Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta on Monday, April 20, 2026. He emphasized that the rise in kidney disease-related expenses has surpassed increases for other major health conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
According to Minister Sadikin, excessive sugar consumption is a primary driver behind the growing burden of kidney failure in Indonesia. He stated plainly that kidney problems are largely caused by high sugar intake, which is why the government is pushing to reduce sugar consumption to prevent the country from facing a potential financial burden of up to 13 trillion rupiah solely for kidney disease treatment through BPJS.
To address this public health challenge, the Ministry of Health is promoting the implementation of the Nutri-Level labeling system. This initiative aims to help consumers make healthier choices by labeling food and beverages based on their sugar, salt, and fat content, using a grading scale from A (dark green, healthiest) to D (red, should be limited).
The minister’s remarks were made in the context of a broader concern about the growing impact of lifestyle-related diseases on Indonesia’s healthcare system and national finances. The data presented underscores the urgent need for preventive measures targeting dietary habits, particularly sugar intake, to curb the rising tide of kidney failure cases.
Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has revealed a dramatic increase in kidney failure cases across the nation, with treatment costs covered by the national health insurance scheme BPJS Kesehatan surging by 476.2 percent over the past five years.
The minister disclosed this alarming trend during a working meeting with Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta on Monday, April 20, 2026. He emphasized that the rise in kidney disease-related expenses has surpassed increases for other major health conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
According to Minister Sadikin, excessive sugar consumption is a primary driver behind the growing burden of kidney failure in Indonesia. He stated plainly that kidney problems are largely caused by high sugar intake, which is why the government is pushing to reduce sugar consumption to prevent the country from facing a potential financial burden of up to 13 trillion rupiah solely for kidney disease treatment through BPJS.
To address this public health challenge, the Ministry of Health is promoting the implementation of the Nutri-Level labeling system. This initiative aims to help consumers make healthier choices by labeling food and beverages based on their sugar, salt, and fat content, using a grading scale from A (dark green, healthiest) to D (red, should be limited).
The minister’s remarks were made in the context of a broader concern about the growing impact of lifestyle-related diseases on Indonesia’s healthcare system and national finances. The data presented underscores the urgent need for preventive measures targeting dietary habits, particularly sugar intake, to curb the rising tide of kidney failure cases.
