Advancements in medical science and biotechnology are revolutionising how healthcare systems understand and treat disease. Among the most significant breakthroughs in recent decades is precision medicine, a model that rejects the “one-size-fits-all” approach, focusing instead on treatments tailored to each individual’s genetic, environmental, and lifestyle characteristics.

In Indonesia, this approach is gaining strong momentum among academics, healthcare professionals, and policymakers. The Ministry of Health has initiated a National Strategy for Genomics and Precision Medicine to promote personalised, data-driven healthcare services. However, its implementation also introduces complex challenges, particularly concerning regulation, personal data protection, and healthcare infrastructure readiness.

Understanding Precision Medicine

Precision medicine, often called personalised healthcare, customises disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment based on genetic and environmental variations among individuals. Every person’s genetic composition influences their disease risks and responses to therapy, making treatment outcomes more predictable and effective.

According to the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), precision medicine integrates clinical data, genomic information, and environmental factors to develop risk profiles and determine optimal interventions for each patient. Unlike conventional medicine that applies uniform treatment standards, this approach recognises biological individuality and enables more accurate, evidence-based care.

The main stages of precision medicine include:

Genomic Sequencing, which involves analysing individual DNA to identify genetic variations affecting disease susceptibility and drug response.
Biomarker Identification, which involves detecting biological markers that signal disease progression or treatment response.
Clinical and Environmental Data Integration, which involves combining lifestyle, medical, and environmental information for a complete health profile.
Targeted Therapy, which involves delivering precise treatments aligned with each patient’s genetic profile.

This approach has already been implemented in cancer, metabolic disorders, autoimmune diseases, and even dental medicine. Indonesia’s Ministry of Health has incorporated precision medicine into its national health transformation agenda, with a strong focus on genomic data integration and laboratory capacity building.

Precision Medicine in Practice: Indonesia’s Early Steps

Indonesia is entering the precision medicine era through collaborative national initiatives. A key example is the National Strategy for Genomics and Precision Medicine, coordinated by the Ministry of Health with universities and research institutions. This strategy includes developing a National Genome Database to support genetic research and clinical applications suited to Indonesia’s diverse population.

Concrete progress can be seen in the partnership between the Ministry of Health, Dharmais Cancer Hospital, and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) to implement genomic-based cancer therapies. This collaboration focuses on genomic mapping to identify effective, low-toxicity treatment options for Indonesian patients.

Other hospitals, such as RSUP Dr Sardjito (Yogyakarta) and RSUPN Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo (Jakarta), have begun offering genomic testing services, including next-generation sequencing (NGS), to guide targeted cancer therapy and rare disease treatment.

Yet, challenges remain significant. Limited molecular laboratory capacity and the high cost of genomic testing hinder accessibility for most Indonesians. Furthermore, raising awareness among healthcare professionals and the public is critical to ensure that genomic data are properly understood and applied.

The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Ministry of Health are integrating biomedical and genomic data to strengthen research. Artificial Intelligence (AI) also plays an increasingly vital role in analysing large genomic datasets to detect patterns and predict treatment outcomes.

Legal and Ethical Framework for Precision Medicine

The legal dimension of precision medicine is crucial — particularly regarding the collection, storage, and use of genetic data. Genomic data are categorised as sensitive personal data, requiring strict protection under Indonesian law.

Article 351 paragraph 2 of Law No. 17/2023 on Health provides that:

“The processing of health data and information involving individual health data must obtain the consent of the data owner and/or comply with other lawful bases for processing personal data under relevant data protection regulations.”

In addition, Law No. 27/2022 on Personal Data Protection (PDP Law) classifies genetic data as specific personal data under Article 4 paragraph 22, requiring higher levels of protection. The PDP Law mandates that:

Data processing must be based on explicit consent from the data subject;
Data controllers must ensure the security and confidentiality of genetic data; and
Violations may result in administrative and criminal sanctions.

These laws reinforce the principles of bioethics, including informed consent and confidentiality, in genomic research and medical practice. Because genetic information relates not only to an individual but also to their biological relatives, its use must be transparent and ethically justified. Patients must be informed of the potential risks, benefits, and uses of their data before any genomic testing is conducted.

Also read: Protecting Innovation: The Role of Patents in Biotechnology Drug Development

The Road Ahead: Innovation with Ethics

Precision medicine offers immense potential for Indonesia’s healthcare system, combining biotechnology, AI, and genomics to deliver safer, more effective, and personalized treatments. Yet realising this potential requires solid infrastructure, sound governance, and continuous public education.

The country’s greatest challenge is to ensure equitable access while maintaining ethical integrity and legal compliance. Collaboration between government, academia, healthcare providers, and the pharmaceutical industry will be essential. With careful regulation and commitment to ethical data use, Indonesia could emerge as a regional leader in personalized medicine, paving the way for a more inclusive and future-ready healthcare system.***

Also read: How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Medical Diagnostics in Indonesia: Legal, Ethical, and Regulatory Perspectives

Regulations:

Undang-Undang Nomor 17 Tahun 2023 tentang Kesehatan (“UU Kesehatan”).
Undang-Undang Nomor 27 Tahun 2022 tentang Perlindungan Data Pribadi (“UU PDP”)

References:

Memahami Kedokteran Presisi dalam Konteks Perkembangannya di Indonesia. Fakultas Kedokteran, Kesehatan Masyarakat dan Keperawatan Universitas Gadjah Mada. (Diakses pada 17 Oktober 2025 pukul 10.16 WIB).
Precision Medicine, Sebuah Antonim dari One Size Fits All. Kumparan. (Diakses pada 17 Oktober 2025 pukul 10.19 WIB).
Biomarkers and Their Impact on Precision Medicine. National Library of Medicine. (Diakses pada 17 Oktober 2025 pukul 10.39 WIB).
Koordinasi Penyusunan Strategi Nasional Genomik dan Precision Medicine Indonesia. Kementerian Kesehatan. (Diakses pada 17 Oktober 2025 pukul 10.43 WIB).
Hadirkan Pengobatan Presisi, Kemenkes Jalin Kolaborasi dengan RS Kanker Dharmais dan CRUK. Wartakota. (Diakses pada 17 Oktober 2025 pukul 11.34 WIB).
Guru Besar FKG Ulas Peran Genomik dan Proteomik dalam Precision Medicine. Universitas Airlangga. (Diakses pada 17 Oktober 2025 pukul 12.47 WIB).
Faisal Asadi. (2024). Studi Literatur Regulasi dan Etika Artificial Intelligence (AI) dalam Kebijakan Kedokteran Presisi (Precision Medicine). Jurnal Fasilkom, 14(1), 59–65. (Diakses pada 17 Oktober 2025 pukul 13.04 WIB).

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Precision Medicine: The Future of Personalised and Effective Healthcare in Indonesia