Government Efforts to Improve Public Health Through Free Medical Check-ups
By: Naza Arisa
The government continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to improving public health through the launch of the Free Health Check-up (PKG) program. This program aims to provide health screening services to all levels of society at no cost, in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s vision to make health a basic right that can be enjoyed by everyone.
The Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, emphasized that this free check-up service can be enjoyed by all Indonesian people, including those who are not registered as BPJS Kesehatan participants. The government wants to ensure that there are no financial barriers for anyone who wants to check their health condition regularly.
This free health check-up is designed to include three main types of services. First, check-ups that are carried out to coincide with the birthdays of people outside of school age, which can be accessed at the nearest health center. Second, health checks for school students that will be carried out at the beginning of each new school year. Third, special check-ups for pregnant women and toddlers that will be carried out at integrated health posts and health centers.
To support the implementation of this program, the government has prepared health infrastructure that includes thousands of health centers and BPJS Kesehatan partner clinics throughout Indonesia. The Ministry of Health also ensures the readiness of health workers to provide optimal services to the community.
Although it does not require BPJS Kesehatan membership, the government still encourages the public to become active BPJS Kesehatan participants. The Director General of Primary and Community Health, Maria Endang Sumiwi, emphasized that active participation will facilitate the referral process and medical treatment if the examination results indicate a health problem. In situations like this, BPJS Kesehatan can help reduce the burden of medical costs.
As an anticipatory step, the government also presents a reminder feature through the Satu Sehat Mobile application. This feature will provide a notification 30 days before the user’s birthday, which is also the ideal time to ensure the activity of BPJS Kesehatan. With this reminder, the public is expected to be more ready to take advantage of this free health service without administrative constraints.
The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, said that various technical preparations, including target data, infrastructure, and human resources, have been carried out thoroughly. The government is also collaborating with the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Dukcapil and BPJS Kesehatan to ensure data synergy that is the basis for program implementation.
Pratikno emphasized the importance of solid orchestration between various parties, starting from related ministries, regional governments, to village-level officials. To strengthen this coordination, the government does not rule out the possibility of issuing a Presidential Instruction (Inpres) to accelerate and expand the implementation of PKG.
The government’s success in implementing the Covid-19 vaccination program has inspired the implementation of PKG. The approach involving the TNI-Polri and direct involvement in remote areas is considered an effective step that can be re-implemented. The government is committed to ensuring that these health services can reach the entire community, including those in remote areas.
As part of a long-term effort, the government hopes that the PKG program can be a foundation for creating a healthier and more productive generation. By providing easy and free access to health checks, the community is expected to be more proactive in maintaining their health from an early age.
This government step is not only real evidence of concern for public health, but also a form of implementing the constitutional mandate to protect the entire Indonesian nation. The PKG program is expected to not only provide direct benefits in early detection of various health problems, but also increase public awareness of the importance of maintaining health as part of everyday life.
In implementing PKG, the government also collaborates with various private parties to support the provision of medical devices and diagnostic technology. This partnership is expected to expand the reach and improve the quality of services provided. With solid cooperation between the government and the private sector, optimal health services can be more easily realized.
