Máxima International expands its impact in Indonesia

Máxima International, the department that aims to increase local survival rates through collaboration with hospitals outside the Netherlands, has established two new twinning partnerships in Indonesia. This month, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central Public Hospital in Jakarta and Dr. Soetomo Hospital in Surabaya were added to existing collaborations in Yogyakarta and Bandung. The Máxima Center now collaborates with all four hospitals where pediatric oncologists are trained, with the goal of improving survival rates and quality of life for all children with cancer in Indonesia.

10,000 children with cancer each year

Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world, an archipelago consisting of more than 17,000 islands. Each year, more than 10,000 children in Indonesia develop cancer, but it is estimated that only half receive a diagnosis, while the chance of cure remains below 30%. This is in stark contrast to the 75–80% survival rate for children with cancer in the Netherlands. Regional differences in facilities play a major role: in some areas, access to specialist care is very limited. As a result, diagnosis is often delayed and timely, effective treatment may not be possible.

Dr. Cipto Hospital in Jakarta has a long history dating back to 1851. What began as a training institute for medical assistants has grown into the largest academic hospital in Indonesia, affiliated with the University of Indonesia. Each year, it treats more than 300 children with cancer.

Dr. Soetomo Hospital in Surabaya is also an academic hospital, affiliated with Airlangga University. This hospital treats more than 200 children with cancer each year.

Improving survival rates and quality of life
Máxima International works with these partners to improve survival rates and quality of life for children with cancer through care, education, research, data registration, and advocacy.

Care

In the area of care, the collaboration focuses on improving diagnostics, adjusting treatment protocols and supportive care protocols, establishing psychosocial care, and supporting improvements in infrastructure to reduce delays in care.

Education

Education includes on-site training of colleagues from partner centers by Máxima professionals or training local teams at the Máxima Center to learn how to work together as a multidisciplinary team.

Research

In research, we collaborate in Indonesia on a broad range of studies, from access to care to supportive care and disease outcome analyses. For example, it is still unclear whether most children die due to treatment toxicity, because treatment is refused or stopped early (abandonment), or because the disease returns (relapse).

Data registration

For data registration, we support partners in setting up and strengthening registration systems, enabling proper evaluation of care, epidemiological analyses, and, in the future, participation in international studies.

Advocacy

In the area of advocacy, we support partners in working with hospital management, local foundations, and the Ministry of Health. This ultimately contributes to better access to quality care and is necessary for sustainable system change.

Through these collaborations, we contribute to improving both survival rates and quality of life for children with cancer in Indonesia.