Jakarta – The government has reaffirmed the importance of early detection as a key step in preventing complications from non-communicable diseases, particularly diabetes, through the expansion of the Free Health Checkup Program (CKG).
Indonesia’s Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, stated that free health examinations are a concrete strategy to save more lives, especially given that most diabetes cases are only detected once complications have already occurred.
“Free health checkups are the first gateway to identifying risks earlier. By understanding one’s condition from the start, we can prevent many dangerous and serious complications,” he said.
The Minister explained that diabetes remains one of the diseases with the highest healthcare costs and a significant risk of death if not detected early. For this reason, the government is expanding screening services through CKG for all age groups.
“Early detection is not an option—it is a necessity. Routine examinations can help people avoid organ damage and prevent far greater treatment costs,” he emphasized.
The Free Health Checkup Program (CKG) now serves as a population-based strategy to identify risk factors and detect diabetes cases more quickly. The service is provided across various healthcare facilities and public spaces to ensure easy access for the public.
“Through CKG, we want to give people the opportunity to know their health status without financial barriers. The earlier a condition is found, the higher the chance we have to prevent severe complications and save lives,” the Minister explained.
Beyond physical examinations, the government is also strengthening digitalization efforts through the integration of chronic disease registry systems. This improvement supports more accurate patient monitoring and expands access to treatment, including the gradual provision of insulin.
The Minister stressed that successfully preventing diabetes complications requires the involvement of families, schools, healthcare workers, and communities.
“Health is a long-term investment. We want children and the productive generation to be free from diabetes complications. Collaboration from all parties is key,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Director of Medical and Nursing Services at RSUP Fatmawati, Dr. Muhammad Azhari Taufik, noted that the rising number of type 1 diabetes patients treated at the hospital highlights the urgency of early detection.
“In just two years, the number of type 1 diabetes patients receiving regular treatment increased from 38 in 2024 to 65 in 2025. This figure reminds us that regular checkups are extremely important,” he said.
He added that managing diabetes in children requires comprehensive support—from healthcare facilities and medical professionals to professional organizations and families.
“Diabetes is a long journey. The right support will help children grow up healthy and confident,” he continued.
Dr. Azhari also emphasized the importance of data integration through the Satu Sehat platform. With connected data, patient monitoring becomes more effective, medical decisions more accurate, and policy-making more precise.
