By: Princess Widyastuti*
Starting in July 2025, the government officially launched the expansion of the Free Health Check (CKG) program which now targets students from elementary to high school levels throughout Indonesia. As many as 53 million students from more than 282 thousand schools and madrasahs will be the beneficiaries of this national program. This step is not just a breakthrough in health services, but also a real form of state investment in preparing a healthy, intelligent, and resilient next generation.
Comprehensive health screening in school environments brings a number of strategic advantages. First, the effectiveness of logistics and implementation. Schools as permanent and organized places facilitate the implementation of massive and efficient screening. Second, easy access for children and parents, who now no longer need to visit health facilities just for routine check-ups. Third, there is a preventive approach from an early age that can reduce the risk of chronic diseases in the future.
This program targets all aspects of student health, from physical to mental health. In its implementation, the examination will be adjusted to the level of education. This reflects the government’s seriousness in understanding the complexity of the health needs of children and adolescents. Mental health, which has often been neglected, is now an important part of screening, given the high prevalence of mental disorders that often go undetected among students. Early screening of mental health opens up opportunities for rapid intervention before problems develop into more serious ones.
The CKG program is one of the three priorities of the President of the Republic of Indonesia in the health sector, in addition to the construction of 66 hospitals in remote areas and the acceleration of tuberculosis (TB) control. Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that a preventive approach is key to health service reform. By mid-2025, the CKG program has reached more than 11 million residents and is able to record up to 200 thousand examinations per day. With the involvement of schools, this number is expected to increase drastically in a short time.
The involvement of the School Health Unit (UKS) and the Community Health Center as field implementers marks a collaborative cross-sector effort. Not only that, this program is also a momentum to revitalize the role of the UKS which has tended to be stagnant. The revitalization of the UKS is not only limited to the availability of equipment, but also to its educational role in instilling awareness of a healthy lifestyle. The government explicitly states that health equipment will be provided collaboratively between the Community Health Center and schools, reflecting the principle of efficiency and synergy between institutions.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Ribka Haluk also paid attention to the success of this program. She requested that all regional governments (Pemda) provide maximum support in its implementation. Ribka emphasized that the achievement of the examination target would not be achieved without the active involvement of regional heads. Circulars and utilization of regional health budgets need to be immediately mobilized. Routine evaluations from the center will also be carried out so that implementation remains on the right track.
Support from the regions is crucial considering the wide coverage area and infrastructure disparities between regions. Health checks for students in schools are not only about disease detection, but also part of equitable and just human resource development. This is where collaboration between the central government, regions, schools, and the community becomes an important foundation for the success of this program.
Meanwhile, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming emphasized that CKG is a flagship program of President Prabowo Subianto’s government. According to him, the success of early detection is a strategic step in reducing the burden of health financing in the future. He said that by June 2025, more than nine million residents had utilized this program, indicating high public interest. The government, said Gibran, will continue to evaluate and improve the implementation so that the quality of service remains optimal.
The Vice President’s statement emphasized that CKG is not just a technocratic program, but part of the grand vision of Indonesian human development. Regular check-ups conducted in schools provide long-term benefits: increased life expectancy, decreased prevalence of chronic diseases from a young age, and the formation of collective awareness about the importance of healthy living.
Looking at the achievements that have been made, such as the dominance of Central Java, East Java, and West Java as the provinces with the most screening, it is clear that with good management and regional support, this program can be realized optimally. However, there are still many challenges ahead, including the distribution of equipment, adequate health workers, and strengthening school capacity in supporting implementation.
Amidst these challenges, the commitment shown by the central and regional governments provides its own optimism. With school and community-based strategies, CKG has the potential to become a strong foundation for a national health system that favors prevention. Moreover, when the state seriously pays attention to the mental health aspect, then what is built is not only a physically healthy generation, but also mentally and emotionally strong.
The CKG program for students not only touches on the dimension of health services, but also concerns the future of the nation. This is a real step that the state is present among the young generation, not just preparing classrooms and textbooks, but also ensuring that every child grows up healthy, happy, and ready to face the challenges of the times. A commitment that deserves to be appreciated and its sustainability maintained.
*The author is an observer of children’s education and health policies.
