Indonesia is stepping into the global spotlight as one of five countries selected to host phase-three clinical trials of a new tuberculosis (TB) vaccine funded by Bill Gates. The vaccine, called M72, is now being tested on over 20,000 participants worldwide—2,095 of whom are in Indonesia. However, controversy has arisen as some have criticized the move, suggesting that Indonesians are being used as “guinea pigs.” So, what is actually happening?
The news was first revealed by President Prabowo Subianto during Bill Gates’ visit to the country on Thursday, May 7. “The Bill Gates TB vaccine will undergo clinical trials in Indonesia,” Prabowo announced. He also disclosed that Gates had pledged a grant of IDR 2.5 trillion to support various health and nutrition initiatives in Indonesia, including the government’s flagship free nutritious meals program for students.
But the announcement triggered sharp public reactions. Critics raised concerns that Indonesians were being treated as “guinea pigs” in a vaccine trial backed by foreign capital. In response, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stepped forward to clarify the government’s rationale.
“Indonesia ranks second in the world for TB cases. That’s one of the main reasons we agreed to join the trial,” Budi told the House of Representatives’ Health Commission on Wednesday, May 14. According to him, Indonesia currently has around 1.06 million TB patients—just behind India.
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Beyond the urgent need for a solution, Budi stressed the scientific importance of conducting the trial on Indonesian soil. “We want to see how effective the vaccine is for our population. Vaccine performance often depends on genetic factors,” he said.
The clinical trial, which started in early September 2024 and wrapped up its current stage by the end of April 2025, was carried out across five medical education institutions in Indonesia. Completion of phase three is expected by late 2028, paving the way for mass production.
“So by 2029, we can begin mass production and start vaccinating the public, just like we did with the COVID-19 vaccine,” Budi explained.
He added that Indonesia’s involvement also opens doors to technology transfer. Local scientists from the University of Indonesia and Padjadjaran University are already part of the research team. And if the vaccine proves successful, Indonesia could be selected as one of its manufacturing hubs.
“That’s why we lobbied hard to include Indonesia in the clinical trials,” Budi emphasized.
The government insists the partnership aims to eliminate tuberculosis and protect future generations. “TB is a deadly disease, and it mostly affects the poor in developing countries,” Budi noted.
Despite the backlash, officials remain firm: participating in this clinical trial could help Indonesia gain an edge in both public health and biotechnology—if the process is done transparently and with public trust.
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