863
The WGS method will be used for research and development of treatments in
six major disease categories, namely: cancer, infectious diseases, brain and
neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic diseases, genetic disorders, and aging. In its
implementation, BGSi was carried out in seven vertical hospitals, namely Cipto
Mangunkusumo Central General Hospital, National Brain Center Hospital (PON
Hospital), Sulianto Saroso Hospital, Friendship Center General Hospital, Dharmais
Cancer Hospital, Sardjito Hospital, and Prof. IGNG Ngoerah Hospital.
In addition to providing preventive care and appropriate treatment solutions,
clinicians can plan therapies that are more tailored to a patient's genetic profile,
allowing for more effective treatment and reducing side effects and can also help
lower overall health care costs due to early detection and targeted treatment.
These benefits not only impact an individual's health, but can also have a huge
social and economic impact. However, it is important to ensure that research and use
of genomic technology in Indonesia is carried out with strict ethical and legal
standards in the collection, use, and storage of genomic data. In addition, there needs
to be an adequate legal and regulatory framework to protect the privacy and rights of
individuals in the context of genomics and public education and awareness about
genomics is also important so that the benefits can be widely felt.
In Law number 17 of 2023 (Law 17/2023) concerning Health, there are
regulations on the use of health technology, including biomedical technology which
includes genomic technology.
Article 338 (1) in order to support Health Services, the Central Government and Local
Governments encourage the use of Health Technology, including biomedical technology. (2)
The use of biomedical technology as referred to in paragraph (1) includes genomic,
transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics technologies related to organisms, tissues, cells,
biomolecules, and other biomedical technologies (Kesuma, 2023).
Meanwhile, the storage and management arrangements are contained in article
339 as follows:
Article 339 (1) Storage and management of materials in the form of clinical specimens
and biological materials, information loads, and data for the long term shall be carried out by
biobanks and I or biorepositories. (2) Biobanks and/or biorepositories as referred to in
paragraph (1) are organized by Health Service Facilities, educational institutions, and/or
Health research and development institutions, whether owned by the Central Government,
Regional Governments, or the private sector.
The passage of the new Law 17/2023 on Health aims to address gaps or
vagueness in the existing legal framework, provide better clarity and direction, and
meet the unique considerations required by genomics.
Article 338 of Law 17/2023 paragraphs 1 and 2 explicitly recognizes genomics
as part of biomedical technology that is important to support health services in
Indonesia. The law outlines the various stages at which genomics can play a role,
from initial specimen collection to long-term specimen storage and even further afield
to the management and utilization of specimens and related genomic data. The
process aims to advance scientific knowledge and develop health technologies and
health services, including precision medicine.
Article 339 of Law 17/2023 paragraphs 1 and 2 explicitly outline provisions
relating to the establishment and operation of biobanks or biorepositories, which are
essential for genomic studies as they are responsible for storing and managing
biological samples safely in Indonesia. Health Facilities, Educational institutions,