Bio Farma and Roche Indonesia Forge Strategic Partnership to Develop Locally Produced Medical Devices for Expanded Cervical Cancer Screening

^{Signing of the Master of Cooperation Agreement by Bio Farma’s Director of Business Development, Yuliana Indriati (center), and Roche Indonesia’s Director of Diagnostics Division, Lee Poh Seng (second from left), witnessed by President Director of Bio Farma (second from right).}

Jakarta, June 23, 2025 — PT Bio Farma (Persero), Indonesia’s largest state-owned pharmaceutical company, and PT Roche Indonesia (Diagnostics Division) have signed a Master of Cooperation Agreement to jointly develop locally produced medical devices for HPV DNA-based cervical cancer detection and to expand access to screening through a Hub and Spoke model. This model will utilize high-performance automated systems alongside manual PCR systems. The initiative is expected to enhance national testing capacity and improve public access to diagnostics, while serving as a concrete contribution to the National Action Plan (RAN) for Cervical Cancer Elimination launched by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia.

The agreement was signed by Yuliana Indriati, Director of Business Development at Bio Farma, and Lee Poh Seng, Director of the Diagnostics Division at Roche Indonesia. This collaboration is designed as a tangible contribution to building a large-scale, equitable, and sustainable early disease detection system across Indonesia.

As an initial step, a pilot project for cervical cancer screening using HPV DNA testing is currently being carried out in East Java Province. The Hub and Spoke approach support the Ministry of Health’s vision of integrated primary healthcare services. PCR-based testing will serve as the backbone of this initiative, expanding access to advanced diagnostic technology, particularly in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure.

Shadiq Akasya, President Director of Bio Farma, emphasized that this partnership is not merely a screening initiative, but an integral part of the national strategy to build a resilient health system.

“National health resilience depends on our ability to detect and respond to disease early and systematically. This partnership reflects Indonesia’s readiness to stand on its own through technology transfer and strengthening domestic capabilities,” said Shadiq.

He also highlighted the importance of developing a robust national diagnostic ecosystem to reduce reliance on imported products.

“With Roche’s expertise and technology, combined with Bio Farma’s production and distribution capacity, we are confident that this collaboration will reinforce the foundation for Indonesia’s healthcare self-reliance, from upstream to downstream,” he added.

Lee Poh Seng, Director of Roche Indonesia’s Diagnostics Division, welcomed the partnership as a key contribution from the private sector in strengthening national health system resilience.

“This signing marks a significant milestone in our strategic partnership with Bio Farma. By combining Roche’s global expertise in in vitro diagnostics and Bio Farma’s role as a key pillar of the national healthcare industry, we believe this collaboration will accelerate the national targets for cervical cancer elimination through high-quality and sustainable screening solutions,” Poh Seng said.

He further emphasized that the partnership will not only promote equitable healthcare access but also strengthen local capacity development for diagnostic systems and raw material supply.

This initiative aligns with the national development agenda outlined in President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita vision, particularly in strengthening healthcare services, advancing biomedical technologies, and achieving pharmaceutical self-sufficiency.

The partnership between Bio Farma and Roche Indonesia is expected to serve as a model for strategic collaboration between state-owned enterprises and the private sector in delivering impactful healthcare innovations while reinforcing the foundation of a competitive and sustainable national health system. 

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Corporate Communication

PT Bio Farma (Persero)

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