The Jakarta Post: What Bhutan, Timor Leste Can Teach Us About Eliminating Malaria

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_{‍This summary draws from an exclusive The Jakarta Post feature. The full article is available to The Jakarta Post subscribers here.}

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Indonesia’s progress towards malaria elimination demonstrates how sustained political commitment, subnational leadership, and robust surveillance systems can translate national ambition into measurable outcomes. With four additional provinces and cities — Bali, Banten, East Java and Jakarta — achieving malaria‑free status based on endemicity levels recorded in 2021, Indonesia continues to consolidate gains and expand elimination momentum across the country.

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Prior to this, Musi Banyuasin regency in South Sumatra and Ambon in Maluku were the most recent additions to the list of cities and regencies that have achieved malaria-free status domestically. Based on criteria established by Indonesia's Ministry of Health, domestic malaria-free certification is contingent on sustained epidemiological evidence, requiring the absence of locally transmitted or indigenous cases for three years, alongside a positivity rate below 5% and an annual parasite incidence level of less than one per 1,000 people.

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Across the Asia Pacific region, Bhutan and Timor-Leste have emerged as regional blueprints for malaria elimination, demonstrating that even the most daunting geographical and resource challenges can be overcome through sustained commitment. Both countries had built significant momentum in maintaining low transmission over the years, before progress was disrupted in 2020 partly attributable to the COVID‑19 pandemic. Central to Bhutan and Timor-Leste's success have been strong political commitment underpinning a whole‑of‑government approach, complemented by community-led strategies and an increased focus on cross‑border collaboration and the integration of malaria responses with other major infectious disease programmes.

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As Indonesia advances towards malaria elimination, sustained commitment in surveillance, subnational capacity, and cross‑sectoral coordination will be critical to protecting these hard-won gains.