Jakarta – The government continues to strengthen the implementation of the Free Health Check (CKG) Program for students as a step towards building a healthy and quality generation in the future. The program focuses on early detection of various physical and mental health issues in children and adolescents throughout Indonesia.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that the government is targeting CKG coverage for children to reach 14 million participants by 2026. He believes the program is crucial in preventing the rise in mental health problems in children.
Budi revealed that by 2025, the CKG program had only reached approximately 7 million children out of a target of 25 million. National screening results showed that 338,000 children experienced anxiety and another 363,000 indicated symptoms of depression.
“In 2026, four children have died. They were from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), West Java, Central Java, and East Kalimantan, aged 11 to 14,” Budi said at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday (March 9, 2026).
According to Budi, children’s mental health issues are influenced by various factors, ranging from family conflict and inappropriate parenting styles to bullying in schools. Therefore, the government will expand mental health screenings and improve education for parents and educators.
“We must educate not only children, but also their parents, especially mothers. Many are unaware that certain parenting styles can lead to anxiety and depression in children,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), Lestari Moerdijat, assessed that preventing and addressing children’s mental health requires a collective commitment from all parties. According to her, concrete steps must be strengthened to build a mental health protection mechanism for the younger generation.
“Concrete steps are needed, born from a strong, shared commitment,” said Lestari Moerdijat.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Government Communications Agency, Muhammad Qodari, revealed that the latest results of the School Health Checklist (CKG) until May 2026 showed that the biggest health problems for students were still tooth decay (41.5 percent), high blood pressure (22.1 percent), and earwax buildup (8.6 percent).
According to Qodari, the School CKG program is a government step to detect student health issues early and strengthen the quality of Indonesia’s human resources.
“Through this program, the government is not only safeguarding student health but also building a foundation for healthier, more productive human resources who are ready to face the future,” said Qodari.