JAKARTA — The government continues to expand the implementation of the Free Health Check (CKG) program as a strategic step to improve the quality of public health through early detection and strengthening a healthy lifestyle.
The program, which has been running since 2025, is now even more widespread, involving more than 10,000 community health centers (Puskesmas) in 514 regencies/cities across Indonesia.
The Head of the Indonesian Government Communications Agency (Bakom), Muhammad Qodari, stated that by May 2026, 100 million Indonesians had participated in the CKG program.
According to him, this achievement demonstrates the government’s commitment to expanding access to health services for the public.
“Throughout 2025, the CKG program served more than 70 million participants. Entering 2026, as of early May 2026, that number had increased by more than 30 million. A total of 100 million Indonesians have received the CKG program,” said Qodari.
However, the government believes the program’s coverage still needs to be expanded, as it only reaches about a third of Indonesia’s total population of nearly 290 million.
Therefore, the government continues to encourage public participation so that routine health check-ups become part of the modern lifestyle.
“We still have a long way to go, because Indonesia’s population is now 290 million. Only a third have participated in the CKG program,” said Qodari.
The CKG program also focuses on early detection of health problems in school-age children. According to data from the Ministry of Health, 4.8 million children underwent health screenings at 48,000 schools between January 1 and May 3, 2026.
The results showed that 41 percent of the children had cavities, 22.1 percent had high blood pressure, and 8.6 percent had earwax buildup.
Qodari admitted to being surprised by the high blood pressure rates among school-aged children and believes this condition should be a matter of collective concern.
“I, frankly, am surprised. High blood pressure is now affecting schoolchildren. If it weren’t for the CKG, this condition might not have been discovered. If high blood pressure persists, it can lead to heart problems,” he said.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin emphasized that the government continues to strengthen education on healthy lifestyles to reduce obesity and non-communicable diseases in the community.
“If we want to live healthier and longer lives, we must start paying attention to our diet, maintaining our weight, and exercising regularly. Health is not just the responsibility of hospitals or government programs; it must be a healthy lifestyle movement that every individual embraces,” Budi explained.
According to the 2025 CKG data, approximately 31 percent of adults suffer from central obesity, and the majority of the population still lacks physical activity.
Therefore, the government continues to promote nutrition education, food nutrition labeling, and exercise campaigns as part of the national healthy living movement.
By expanding the CKG program, the government demonstrates its commitment to developing more inclusive, preventative, and high-quality healthcare services to create a healthier and more productive Indonesian society.