Menkes proposes TBC patients for free nutritious meals
The proposal is being directed to BGN as the 2027 MBG recipient scheme is still being drafted, with TBC said to kill about 126 thousand a year.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has proposed that tuberculosis, or TBC, patients be included as beneficiaries of the free nutritious meal program. At the Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Budi said TBC patients generally undergo treatment for 6 to 12 months while their physical condition is weak, so added nutrition could strengthen immunity and speed recovery. He said the proposal has been discussed with National Nutrition Agency head Nanik Sudaryati Deyang. Budi also said TBC remains deadly, causing about 126 thousand deaths a year in Indonesia. Beyond TBC patients, he said pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and toddlers should be prioritized. Separately, BGN spokesperson Agustina Arumsari said the agency is still drafting the formula for MBG 2027 recipients, taking into account nutritional vulnerability, socioeconomic conditions and access to nutrition.