One year of free health check program, a healthy start to productivity

 An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The saying underscores the importance of prevention in avoiding adverse consequences.

This principle underlies the Free Health Check (CKG) program, one of President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship health initiatives, which aims to shift Indonesia’s health paradigm from curative care to promotive and preventive approaches.

One year after its launch on February 10, 2025, the CKG program has become one of the largest public health initiatives in the country’s history. Targeting around 280 million people, the program reached approximately 70.2 million participants out of 73.1 million registered as of December 29, 2025, according to Ministry of Health data.

The program offers health check packages tailored to the risk profiles of different age groups, from newborns to the elderly. Services are delivered through 10,588 health facilities across Indonesia, reflecting the government’s commitment to treating health as a long-term investment.

At the 2026 World Economic Forum, President Prabowo said the CKG program is not merely a populist initiative, but a rational policy to boost productivity through early disease detection.

Health Saves Money

Early identification of disease risks can significantly reduce future healthcare costs.

In 2025, the state health insurer BPJS Kesehatan paid Rp190.3 trillion (US$11 billion) in claims. Of that amount, Rp50.2 trillion (US$2.8 billion) was allocated to cover 59.9 million cases of chronic diseases, including heart disease, kidney failure, cancer, stroke, liver cirrhosis, thalassemia, and hemophilia.

BPJS Kesehatan Head of Public Relations Rizzky Anugerah said heart disease accounted for the highest number of cases, with 29.7 million cases costing Rp17.3 trillion (US$1 billion). Kidney failure followed with 12.6 million cases costing Rp13.3 trillion (US$768 million), while cancer ranked third with 7.2 million cases and expenses reaching Rp10.3 trillion (US$595 million).

These figures are consistent with CKG findings, which identified several risk factors for chronic diseases across age groups, including obesity, physical inactivity, and excessive consumption of sugar, salt, and fat.

Among adults, one in three is obese, and around seven million people have hypertension or pre-hypertension. In addition, about 100,000 people have diabetes or pre-diabetes, a condition marked by elevated blood sugar levels.

Among the elderly, 51 percent have high blood pressure. In the school-age and teenage groups, seven percent are overweight or obese. Of the 18 million children examined, 1.3 million were physically inactive. One in five participants was found to have hypertension.

Dental problems were also prevalent across age groups. Fifty-eight percent of seniors experienced dental issues. Of the 15 million adults examined, nine million had cavities.

Cavities were also detected in 31 percent of children aged one to six who participated in the CKG program, and in 47 percent of school-age children and teenagers.

In addition to identifying common health issues, the program also detected age-specific conditions.

Among 1,686 newborns screened, identified conditions included G6PD deficiency, a disorder affecting an enzyme that protects red blood cells, critical congenital heart disease, and thyroid hormone deficiency.

Furthermore, 26 percent of teenagers experienced ear problems, and one in four individuals was found to have anemia

The Future of CKG

Early detection of health problems enables timely prevention and treatment.

The Ministry of Health plans to expand the coverage of the Free Health Check (CKG) program to around 130 to 140 million people by 2026. The expansion will include additional and intensified screenings under the national program, as well as strengthened governance and follow-up of test results.

Leprosy screening will be incorporated into the program as part of efforts to accelerate disease elimination, particularly in eastern Indonesia. The screening will use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

The ministry is also allocating additional facilities to broaden the program’s reach. In Tangerang, Banten, which exceeded its CKG target by 106 percent, Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono pledged to provide electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment at every community health center in the area.

Eye health services will be reinforced following findings from early detection of vision impairment through the CKG program. Throughout 2025, the Ministry of Health conducted vision screenings on around 55 million people aged seven and older, with results showing that approximately 17 percent had vision impairment.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that starting in 2026, preventive measures and treatment following a CKG examination will be free of charge for the first 15 days after the check-up, regardless of whether participants are registered at the community health center where the examination was conducted.

Priority treatment within the 15-day period will include diabetes, often described as a major underlying condition due to its serious complications and potential to trigger other diseases.

After the 15-day period, treatment will remain free for participants who are actively enrolled in the National Health Insurance (JKN) program. The Ministry of Health therefore urges citizens to maintain their health insurance coverage.

“By paying a premium that costs less than a pack of cigarettes, the benefits are substantial,” the minister said.

Despite its scale, the CKG program still faces challenges in coverage. Currently, about 24.9 percent of Indonesia’s population has participated in the program.

Maria Endang Sumiwi, Director General of Primary and Community Health at the Ministry of Health, said evaluations showed that only 45 percent of the public is aware of the CKG initiative.

Surveys indicate that some people are reluctant to participate due to inconvenient scheduling or because they believe they are in good health.

The Indonesian Government Communications Agency (Bakom RI) stated that effective communication, outreach, and public education are essential to increasing participation and shifting public perceptions about preventive healthcare.

Bakom RI spokesperson Adita Irawati said the CKG program reflects the mandate of the 1945 Constitution, which obliges the state to promote public welfare. With the entire population as its target beneficiaries, the program requires broad collaboration to raise awareness and encourage behavioral change.

Health is a long-term investment. While maintaining it requires discipline through regular check-ups, physical activity, and balanced nutrition, the benefits extend beyond individuals to their families and the nation as a whole.