Jakarta, 9 December 2025 — The Indonesian Society of Gastroenterology (ISG), in collaboration with the Indonesian Gastroenterology Foundation (YGI), held the Crohn’s & Colitis and Awareness Week 2025 to commemorate the global Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week, observed annually on 1–7 December. The event took place at JS Luwansa Hotel in Jakarta and was broadcast live on YouTube, enabling participation from viewers across the country.
The program was attended by healthcare professionals, media representatives, and patient communities, and was supported by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia and supported by Takeda Indonesia. This initiative served as a national momentum to strengthen scientific understanding and increase public awareness of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), a group of chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract that includes Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease.
Rising Global and Regional Incidence of IBD
In his opening remarks, Prof. Ari Fahrial Syam, President of ISG, underscored the importance of increasing public awareness of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract that includes Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease. According to data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study, both the incidence and prevalence of IBD have risen significantly from 1990 to 2021. Similar upward trends have been observed across many Asian countries, including Indonesia.
Given this growing burden, public education, early detection, and multisectoral collaboration are essential to improving the quality of life of individuals living with IBD.
Diagnostic Challenges: The Need for Comprehensive Evaluation
According to Prof. Ari Fahrial Syam, the diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) requires a multidisciplinary and thoroughly structured clinical approach. He emphasized that:
“IBD often presents with nonspecific symptoms, which leads many patients to delay seeking medical attention. As a result, the disease is frequently diagnosed at a more advanced stage. Early recognition is crucial to preventing complications. Endoscopic examination, tissue biopsy, and laboratory testing are essential components in establishing an accurate diagnosis. Without a comprehensive evaluation, IBD can easily be overlooked or mistaken for other gastrointestinal disorders.”
Prof. Ari also noted that limited public health literacy and insufficient awareness of IBD at the primary-care level remain significant barriers, contributing to delays in diagnosis and appropriate management.
Media Education Session to Enhance Public Awareness
The media education session featured a testimony from an IBD patient as well as a scientific presentation delivered by Prof. Ari Fahrial Syam, who discussed early signs and symptoms of IBD, its long-term impact on patients’ quality of life, and the importance of prompt and continuous management.
The interactive discussion generated numerous questions from media participants regarding diagnostic challenges, access to therapy, and the broader efforts to strengthen gastroenterology services in Indonesia.
ISG’s Commitment to Advancing IBD Education and Care
Through this initiative, ISG reaffirmed its commitment to:
- Expanding public access to reliable IBD education
- Strengthening healthcare professionals’ capacity in diagnosing and managing IBD
- Enhancing sustained collaborations with international organizations such as Asian Pacific Association of Gastroenterology (APAGE), Asian Education Network (AEN) in IBD, and World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO)
- Supporting research and the development of dedicated IBD care and education centers in Indonesia
ISG also expressed its appreciation to all contributing partners, including the Ministry of Health, YGI, industry partners, and media representatives for their role in disseminating accurate health information to the public.
