Jakarta, 2 June 2026: ERIA, in collaboration with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health (MoH), convened the National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL) Technical Working Group (TWG) Verification Workshop as part of the process to finalise and validate Indonesia’s NEDL document.

Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office Indonesia and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), the workshop brought together members of the NEDL Technical Working Group from relevant MoH directorates, public health experts, representatives of public health and clinical laboratories, professional associations, research and academic institutions, and development partners.

The workshop formed part of a broader consultation process led by the MoH, which has included assessments of disease burden data, diagnostic capacity, national clinical guidelines, and adaptation of the WHO Essential Diagnostics List (EDL) to Indonesia’s healthcare context. The objective was to ensure that the NEDL recommendations are evidence-based, technically robust, and implementable across all levels of the national health system.

In her opening remarks, Dr Manami Uechi, Director of ERIA’s Health and Social Welfare Unit, highlighted that the initiative forms part of ERIA’s broader regional efforts under the ASEAN Essential Diagnostics List Initiative (AEDLI), implemented through ASEAN Health Cluster 3 (AHC 3).

She emphasised the importance of ensuring equitable access to safe, affordable, and quality diagnostics as a cornerstone of resilient health systems. Dr Uechi also highlighted ERIA’s previous support for the WHO EDL gap assessment conducted in five ASEAN Member States, including Indonesia, and reaffirmed ERIA’s commitment to supporting countries in strengthening regional health resilience and self-reliance.

Following the opening session, Dr Hiroyuki Kiyohara, Programme Manager on Health Development and Policy at ERIA, presented the ASEAN Essential Diagnostics List Initiative. He explained that AEDLI, led by the Philippines, serves as a regional framework to support ASEAN Member States in developing and implementing National Essential Diagnostics Lists based on the WHO EDL.

He noted that significant progress has already been made across ASEAN, with several countries developing or finalising their NEDLs. ERIA continues to support these efforts through technical assistance, gap assessments, and regional co-ordination aimed at strengthening diagnostics self-reliance, preparedness, and universal health coverage.

Technical discussions throughout the workshop focused on reviewing and validating the draft NEDL document. FIND presented the first three chapters of the draft, followed by detailed review sessions led by Dr Weni Muniarti, Indonesia’s focal point for the initiative, and Dr Nurhayati, Epidemiologist at FIND. Participants actively exchanged technical perspectives and provided recommendations to further strengthen the document.

The workshop also benefited from expert contributions from representatives of the Indonesian Association of Clinical Pathology Specialists, the Indonesian Association of Clinical Parasitology Specialists, and the Indonesian Association of Clinical Microbiology Specialists. Their input provided valuable scientific and professional perspectives to support the refinement of the draft.

The meeting concluded with a summary of key discussions and next steps delivered by the Ministry of Health.

In the closing session, Dr Antonio Villanueva, Research Fellow on Health Policy at ERIA, congratulated the Ministry on the successful workshop and thanked all partners for their continued support since the initiative began in 2023 with the WHO EDL Gap Assessment. He also highlighted Indonesia’s role as one of the three members of the Regional Advisory Committee for the NEDL/AEDLI project.

Representing the Ministry of Health, Dr Tiffany Tiara Pakasi, Head of the Public Health Laboratory Governance Working Team, delivered closing remarks. She stressed that collaboration amongst government agencies, experts, and development partners remains essential to completing Indonesia’s first National Essential Diagnostics List. She expressed her appreciation to all contributors and encouraged their continued engagement through the document’s finalisation and future revisions.

The final meeting to complete the NEDL document is scheduled for the following week, ahead of its official endorsement by the Ministry of Health.