New agreement to strengthen access to cancer medicines in Indonesia

The UICC-led Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition and Indonesia’s National Cancer Center, Dharmais Cancer Hospital, a UICC member organisation, will collaborate to improve the availability, affordability, and appropriate use of quality-assured medicines and diagnostics for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in Indonesia.  

This collaboration builds on the ATOM Coalition’s ongoing work to expand access to CML treatment across low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs). In 2022 the Coalition pioneered the first public health-oriented voluntary licence for a cancer medicine, which enabled more affordable generic versions of nilotinib to become available for the treatment of CML.

CML is a form of blood cancer that, with timely diagnosis and consistent access to effective targeted therapies, including nilotinib, can be managed and patients can achieve remission. Alongside medicine access, the partnership will support improved, sustainable access to diagnostic and monitoring tools essential to long term effective treatment for CML patients.

A formal agreement was signed on 30 October 2025 to establish a structured collaboration between the ATOM Coalition and Dharmais Cancer Hospital. Under this agreement, the ATOM Coalition will work closely with Dharmais to support the identification of key barriers to CML medicine access and co-develop country-led capacity strengthening activities to overcome them.

Dharmais Cancer Hospital is a National Cancer Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, operating under the Ministry of Health. Dharmais aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of cancer care through comprehensive services, education, and research.

Cancer is a major public health issue in Indonesia, with 2022 data from the Global Cancer Observatory recording 408,661 new cancer cases, with a mortality rate of 242,099 - more than 50 percent of the total cases. Cancer is the third leading cause of death in Indonesia and is estimated to account for around one in 11 premature (before age 75) deaths between 2023–2050.

Dr. R. Soeko Werdi Nindito D., MARS, President Director of Dharmais Cancer Hospital, added: “This collaboration with the ATOM Coalition represents our shared commitment to ensuring that no Indonesian faces cancer without access to effective diagnostics and medicines.”

Natasha Shah, Executive Director of the ATOM Coalition, said the collaboration marks a significant step toward strengthening Indonesia’s cancer medicines access ecosystem. “We are excited to work alongside Dharmais Cancer Hospital to support Indonesia’s efforts to build a stronger, more resilient system for persons affected by CML.”