Jakarta, Indonesianpost.com – Indonesia’s Ministry of Health reported that 5.3 million citizens have undergone free health screenings since the program’s launch, with an average of 187,000 people tested daily.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin disclosed these figures during a meeting with House of Representatives Commission IX on Wednesday (May 14), noting a rapid increase of four million participants within just one month.
Despite this progress, the minister acknowledged significant challenges in implementation, particularly in densely populated areas. West Java, Indonesia’s most populous province, currently ranks third in program coverage behind Central Java and East Java.
“This disparity highlights the need for stronger leadership from regional officials to improve participation,” Budi said. He has coordinated with Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian and provincial governors to address these gaps.
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The program faces a second major hurdle: ensuring proper medical follow-up for screening results. Dental health exemplifies this issue, with tooth decay being the most common problem detected among young children despite a nationwide shortage of dentists.
Other frequently identified conditions include low birth weight and congenital heart disease in newborns, along with hypertension among elderly participants.
Budi stressed that while early detection helps prevention, it must be paired with treatment and public education. “Timely intervention can prevent strokes, heart disease, and kidney failure, potentially extending life expectancy to 74 years,” he explained.
The minister highlighted simple preventive measures like maintaining healthy waist circumference, noting that exceeding recommended measurements doubles hypertension risks.
Nationwide Screening Initiative Expands
Launched on February 10, 2025, the program provides age-specific checks at community health centers:
– Infants: Congenital disorder screenings
– Children: Growth assessments
– Adults: Lung and general health exams
– Elderly: Comprehensive checks including bone/joint evaluations
The government will extend services to schools starting July 2025, with pilot projects already underway at selected Islamic boarding schools.
This ambitious public health effort aims to improve early disease detection nationwide while addressing systemic healthcare challenges. (BL/Antara)