The Indonesian government officially launched an annual Free Health Screening (CKG) program on Monday (February 10) with a budget allocation of Rp 3 trillion ($183.54 million). This initiative aims to prevent premature deaths and is the largest health program ever implemented, surpassing even the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
Under the program, all Indonesian citizens are eligible for a free health screening on their birthday, which is valid for up to 30 days thereafter.
This year, the program focuses on children under the age of six and adults 18 years and older, targeting 100 million people.
Despite a budget cut of approximately Rp 1 trillion to support other social programs, this initiative remains an ambitious step towards improving public health through preventive care.
Preventive care for all
The CGK program is designed to promote preventive health care, as many Indonesians tend to seek medical care only when their condition has worsened. Early screening is often overlooked, leading to late diagnosis and delayed treatment.
Through this initiative, screenings will be conducted at more than 20,000 health centers and clinics, including community health centers (puskesmas) and facilities partnered with BPJS Kesehatan (Indonesia Health Insurance Board).
In addition to physical checkups, the program also includes mental health screenings to detect early signs of depression or anxiety. Early detection of various diseases—including hormonal disorders, congenital heart defects, stroke risks, and cancer—remains a key focus of this initiative.
Early Detection, Better Health
This free health screening program comes at a critical time. Indonesia is facing a surge in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, which are straining the healthcare system. WHO data shows that stroke, heart disease, and tuberculosis (TB) are the leading causes of death in the country.
Among teenagers, factors such as traffic accidents, cancer, and tuberculosis account for 63.9 percent of deaths, while among adults, cancer, heart disease, and stroke account for 72.6 percent. Preventable conditions such as neonatal disorders and respiratory infections also have a significant impact on infant and child mortality. In addition, the elderly are highly vulnerable to stroke, heart disease and diabetes, with these conditions accounting for 73.5% of deaths in this group.
If more people undergo regular checkups, receive early treatment, and adopt healthier lifestyles, the impact could be significant—not only in reducing mortality rates but also in alleviating the financial burden on the healthcare system.
How to Get a Free Health Screening
All Indonesian citizens are eligible for the free health screening program, which is divided into three categories:
- Birthday Checkups: Available for children aged 0-6 years and adults aged 18 and above, conducted at puskesmas or clinics, valid up to one month after their birthday.
- School-Based Checkups: For children aged 7-17 years, conducted at schools at the start of the academic year (July).
- Special Checkups: Designed for pregnant women and infants, conducted at posyandu and puskesmas.
Eligibility and Screening Process
- Register or activate your BPJS Kesehatan membership.
- Download the SATUSEHAT Mobile app and complete your personal information.
- Schedule your screening through the app or the BPJS Kesehatan WhatsApp Chatbot.
- Receive reminder notifications via WhatsApp on H-30, H-7, H-1, and your birthday.
- Complete the health screening questionnaire on the SATUSEHAT Mobile app seven days before your birthday.
- Obtain your screening ticket in the app after completing the questionnaire.
- Visit a BPJS-affiliated healthcare facility with your ID, screening ticket, and completed questionnaire.
Note: For those who do not have internet or a cell phone, they can still access the free health screening by visiting a puskesmas with their KTP (Indonesian ID card).
Types of Health Screenings
For adults (18-59 years) and seniors (≥60 years), 20 types of screenings are available, including:
- Chronic diseases: Blood pressure, blood sugar, stroke risk, heart disease, kidney disease, and COPD.
- Cancer: Breast (>30 years), cervical (>30 years), lung (>45 years), and colorectal cancer (>50 years).
- Specific health screenings: Ear, eye, dental, liver (hepatitis B/C, cirrhosis), nutrition, and mental health.
- Special screenings: Premarital checkups (Hb, syphilis, HIV), physical activity assessment, and geriatric screenings (≥60 years).
