By: Bara Winatha*)
The free health check program, which is part of President Prabowo Subianto’s government policy, is now more easily accessible to the public. The latest policy from the Ministry of Health allows the public to participate in this program at any time throughout 2025, as long as quotas are still available. This change aims to increase public participation in health checks to prevent non-communicable diseases which are often the main cause of death in Indonesia.
The Director General of Primary and Community Health at the Ministry of Health, Maria Endang Sumiwi, said that this program is still a birthday present for the public, but is no longer tied to the date of birth. She emphasized that the public can use this service at any time according to the availability of the quota provided. The Ministry of Health has opened a new system for this policy change since March 11, 2025, and a related circular is expected to be issued soon. With this change, Maria hopes that more people will immediately take advantage of the free health check service without waiting for their birthday.
The Director of Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, stated that the public can now undergo a free health check once a year without having to wait for their birthday. The program is expected to reach more people and raise awareness of the importance of early detection of non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, which are often asymptomatic but have serious long-term health impacts.
Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, revealed that since it was first launched, the number of registrants for the free health check program has continued to increase significantly. If at the beginning of the launch the number of daily registrants was only around 2,000 people, now that number has increased to around 41,000 people per day. Although the registration trend continues to increase, this number is still far from the maximum capacity that can be accommodated, which is 300,000 people per day throughout Indonesia. Therefore, Budi invited the media to help disseminate information related to this program so that more people know about and use it.
In addition, the Ministry of Health ensured that the free health check program will continue to run during the month of Ramadan. The Minister of Health emphasized that health services such as blood pressure checks, dental and oral health can still be carried out. He also ensured that the operating hours of health centers did not change during Ramadan, so that the public could still access health services normally. This is expected to provide convenience for people who want to undergo health checks without having to disrupt their fasting.
Free health checks have been implemented since February 10, 2025 in all health centers in Indonesia as a form of health protection for the community. This program is based on data showing that more than 600 thousand Indonesians die each year from cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke. The government considers that these diseases are often caused by an unhealthy lifestyle and can be prevented through routine health checks. With this program, it is hoped that the community will be more aware of the importance of early detection and prevention of disease through regular check-ups.
The government is targeting that this free health check program can reach up to 100 million people this year. In the initial stage, the target set was 60 million people, which will then increase to reach 100 million people by the end of the year. To support the implementation of this program, the government has allocated a budget of IDR 4.7 trillion in 2025. With this budget, the Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring that all Indonesian people have better access to preventive health services.
Although the daily registration quota available is quite large, there are still obstacles in terms of service utilization by the public. Maria said that the number of registrants is still relatively low compared to the available capacity. According to her, many people still think that this service can only be used on their birthday, even though the regulation has been changed. The Ministry of Health continues to strive to increase public awareness of this program through various communication channels, including social media and cooperation with various parties. The government also appeals to the public to immediately register and take advantage of this free health check facility before the quota runs out. With more and more people participating in this program, it is hoped that awareness of the importance of preventive health can increase, so that the incidence of non-communicable diseases can be reduced.can be significantly suppressed.
This change in the free health check policy is a very positive step in increasing access to health services for all Indonesian people. By no longer being tied to birthdays, it is hoped that more people will be able to take advantage of this program according to the time they consider most convenient. This step is in line with the government’s efforts to build a more inclusive and equitable health system for all citizens. In the future, active community participation in this program will be the key to success in creating a healthier and more productive generation.
*) The author is a social and community observer.
