By: Rangga Wiratama
The government’s Free Health Check (CKG) program continues to receive strong public support. As of early May 2026, 100 million Indonesians had participated in free health checks at more than 10,000 community health centers (Puskesmas) across 514 regencies and cities across Indonesia. This achievement demonstrates growing public awareness of the importance of early disease detection and demonstrates the government’s success in strengthening preventive health services over the past year.
The Indonesian Government Communications Agency (Bakom) reported a significant surge in CKG program participants in recent months. Bakom RI Head Muhammad Qodari explained that throughout 2025, the program served more than 70 million participants. Entering 2026, as of early May, that number had increased by more than 30 million, bringing the total number of participants to 100 million. According to him, this achievement demonstrates that government health services are increasingly accessible to the public, even in rural areas.
In addition to general health checks, the government also places significant emphasis on the health of school-aged children. According to data from the Ministry of Health, from January to early May 2026, 4.8 million children underwent health screenings in approximately 48,000 schools across Indonesia. These screenings ensure early monitoring of children’s health and detect potential diseases that may arise at a young age.
From these screenings, the government uncovered some alarming findings. Muhammad Qodari revealed that approximately 22.1 percent, or 663,000 children, experienced elevated blood pressure. This finding is considered a new phenomenon that requires serious attention, as high blood pressure has traditionally been associated with adulthood.
The government believes this condition is closely linked to changes in lifestyle, particularly among the younger generation. Unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity, and high use of gadgets are considered factors affecting children’s health. Therefore, the CKG program is expected to be a first step in preventing the rise in non-communicable diseases in the future.
In addition to focusing on health checks, the government is also continuing to strengthen the management of tuberculosis (TB), which remains a national challenge. Muhammad Qodari stated that the government is strengthening the disease detection system at community health centers (Puskesmas) by providing near-point-of-care testing and X-ray screening equipment, which will begin in the second half of this year. These enhanced facilities are expected to accelerate the detection and treatment of TB patients.
As of early May 2026, the government recorded more than 241,000 TB cases detected nationwide. Of these, treatment initiation has reached 84 percent of the national target of 90 percent, while the treatment success rate is at 80 percent. The government is optimistic that this achievement can continue to increase as health services are strengthened in various regions.
TB management efforts are also being carried out through close contact tracing of patients, initially in West Java and Central Java before being gradually expanded throughout Indonesia. The government targets to reach approximately 5,500 contacts of TB patients between April and May 2026 to suppress the spread of the disease more quickly.
Beyond focusing solely on medical services, the government is also implementing a housing improvement program for TB patients to support the healing process. This program is considered crucial because inadequate housing conditions can increase the risk of disease transmission. The number of houses renovated this year also increased compared to the 2020-2023 period, which averaged only 300 houses per year.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin emphasized that early detection is a crucial foundation for building a healthy and productive society. He stated that many chronic diseases can be prevented if detected early through routine health checkups. Therefore, the government continues to encourage the public to utilize CKG services as a preventative measure before diseases develop into more serious ones.
Budi Gunadi Sadikin also believes that the transformation of the national health system must be directed at strengthening preventive services, not just treatment. The health system is perceived as focusing too much on treating patients after they become ill, even though prevention is far more effective in the long term. He hopes the CKG program will raise public awareness so that routine health checkups become a daily necessity.
In addition to health checkups, the government also emphasizes the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as maintaining a healthy diet regular exercise and stress management are key factors in supporting the success of the national health program.
Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Harbuwono emphasized that the health of children and students is a top government priority because the younger generation is the nation’s future asset. He believes that health checks for children are not only for detecting diseases but also for ensuring optimal growth and development, thus supporting the quality of education and productivity of the younger generation.
Dante Saksono Harbuwono also believes that schools play a strategic role in fostering a healthy lifestyle. Through consistent education, children can understand the importance of maintaining their health from an early age, so that healthy habits can develop sustainably.
The success of the CKG program over the past year demonstrates the government’s achievements in strengthening national health services. In addition to expanding access to free health checks to hundreds of millions of people, the government has also strengthened basic health facilities, improved digital health services, expanded the distribution of medical personnel, and accelerated the handling of infectious diseases in various regions.
The achievement of 100 million CKG participants demonstrates that public awareness of the importance of health continues to grow. The enthusiasm of residents who utilize the free health checkup service is expected to be the beginning of a healthy lifestyle culture in Indonesia. With strong collaboration between the government, schools, families, and the community, the CKG program is expected to produce a healthier, more productive, and more competitive generation of Indonesians in the future.
*) National Health Development Analyst