The Free Health Check (CKG) program initiated by the government is a strategic step in strengthening early detection and disease prevention in the community. This initiative is designed to reduce the number of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) while increasing life expectancy for the Indonesian people.
The Head of the Communication and Public Information Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Aji Muhawarman, stated that the CKG is part of the transformation of health services that focuses on promotive and preventive efforts.
“Many cases of serious illnesses can actually be prevented if public health conditions are detected early through routine check-ups,” he said.
Aji cited the examples of countries such as South Korea, Singapore, and Japan, which have achieved a life expectancy of up to 84 years because they emphasize the importance of early detection.
“In Indonesia, many diseases are only detected when they have become chronic due to a lack of screening. However, three basic indicators that need to be checked regularly are sufficient: blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol,” he explained.
According to Aji, the majority of current public health problems stem from non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
Initial surveys on the implementation of the CKG showed that many productive-age citizens have high blood pressure and uncontrolled blood sugar levels, and some have never had their cholesterol or body mass index checked.
He emphasized that the CKG program is free and accessible at community health centers, schools, and through outreach services in the community.
“Examinations that used to cost a lot of money can now be done free of charge. It would be a shame to miss this opportunity,” he added.
The Head of the Lamongan Regency Health Office, Chaidir Annas, said that the implementation of the CKG in his area has shown impressive results.
“Since it began last February, we have served 344,217 residents, or 69.92 percent of the target of 492,000 people. Public enthusiasm is very high,” he said.
Chaidir explained that this program not only targets the general public, but also schoolchildren through nutritional status checks, dental health, eye health, and early detection of infectious and non-infectious diseases.
“Our health workers actively go directly to schools to instill awareness of healthy living from an early age,” he said.
He also mentioned that digital innovation through the Sehat Indonesiaku (ASIK) website helps officers record community data directly, thus overcoming online registration obstacles.
Aji emphasized the importance of cooperation from all parties to ensure the sustainability of this program.
“Healthcare cannot be achieved by the government alone. It must be collaborative so that the benefits are felt by the entire community,” he stressed. (*)
