Former Health Minister Passes Away at 57

VIVAnews - Former Health Minister, Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, passed away today at around 11.50 AM at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, following severe deterioration in her condition due to stage IV lung cancer. 

"She passed away around 10 minutes ago," presidential spokesperson, Julian Aldrin Pasha, told VIVAnews on Wednesday, May 2. 

Endang, 57, received her Master of Public Health and Doctor of Public Health from Harvard School of Public Health. She resigned from her office last week due to the illness.  

Endang was appointed health minister in 2009. In October 2010, she revealed her illness to the public, which drew concerns about her ability to perform her duties.

On 16 January 2011, advisor of Health Minister on political and health policy affairs, Bambang Sulistomo, said the late minister had been diagnozed cancer in October 2010.

Between October and November 2010, the former minister went for a treatment to Guangzhou, China.