Free Health Check Program in Schools: Initial Step for Student Health Screening
Jakarta – The government, through cross-ministerial collaboration, is rolling out a strategic Free Health Check (CKG) program for all students from elementary to high school in Indonesia. This program is intended as an initial step in screening students’ physical and mental health, while also serving as an important foundation for ensuring their readiness to optimally undergo the educational process.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin explained that this program is designed to reach more than 53 million students throughout Indonesia, including those studying in Elementary Schools (Sekolah Rakyat).
“This is a program to ensure that Indonesians remain healthy and prevent illness, especially the nation’s sons and daughters,” said Budi Gunadi.
Budi emphasized that the screening package will include both physical and psychological health checks for students.
“The tests that will be conducted in elementary, middle, and high schools will be different. There are physical health issues, and there are also mental health issues,” said Budi.
Abdul Fikri Faqih, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction, welcomed the government’s plan to implement the Free Health Check Program for students in both elementary and high schools. He stated that the CKG program is crucial for ensuring students’ physical readiness for the educational process.
“If it doesn’t significantly disrupt priority budgets, health checks are crucial to ensure these children and students are physically and healthily prepared for school,” said Fikri Faqih.
He also believes the CKG program can provide data on students’ health early on, allowing the government and schools to focus on implementing preventive programs, such as exercise and a healthy, balanced diet.
“Furthermore, instead of health programs, we should focus on exercise and a healthy, balanced diet, so the health budget could actually be reduced,” he added.
With accurate health data, he believes, the government can design more targeted and effective health programs. Ultimately, this can also reduce the burden on the overall health budget.
“Hopefully, the Free Health Check Program can run smoothly and have a positive impact on the health of all students in Indonesia, including those in Elementary Schools,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti explained that his ministry has conducted outreach to various schools in the regions. Screening will begin after the end of the School Environment Introduction Period (MPLS).
“The MPLS will run for one week on July 14th, then the following week, schools will prepare the academic calendar, and we plan to work with the Ministry of Health to begin in August,” explained Mu’ti.
She added that these screenings are crucial, especially for students living in dormitories, to prevent disease transmission. They want to ensure all students are healthy and free from infectious diseases.
“This is part of the government’s commitment to ensuring healthy and quality education,” she emphasized.
The Free Health Check Program in Schools marks the first milestone in integrating the health and education systems with a more prevention-oriented approach. With cross-sector support and a collaborative spirit, this policy is expected to improve the quality of human resources from an early age and strengthen the foundation of sustainable national development.
