Free Health Check Programme Could Strengthen Disease Prevention, Says PSI

The Free Health Check (CKG) programme run by the administration of President Prabowo Subianto is considered capable of changing the pattern of public health services, from one that has so far been more oriented towards treatment to one that prioritises prevention.

The Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) views the programme as an important policy because it gives the public the opportunity to learn about their health condition from an early stage.

Deputy Chairperson of the PSI Central Executive Board Endang Tirtana said that regular health checks can help identify risk factors and diseases before they develop into more serious conditions.

“The CKG programme encourages a shift in the emphasis of health services, from one that has so far focused heavily on treatment towards strengthening prevention and early detection,” Endang said on 18 August 2026.

During the Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI), President Prabowo Subianto previously reported on the progress of the CKG programme. The programme, which began running in February 2025, is said to have reached 108 million people.

The CKG service is available at 10,255 community health centres (Puskesmas) spread across 38 provinces. According to Endang, expanding access to free health checks is important for building the public’s habit of undergoing regular examinations.

“PSI views the expansion of free health checks as a strategic step to strengthen the culture of prevention and early detection in society. Routine checks allow risk factors and diseases to be found earlier, so that treatment can be carried out more quickly and the chance of complications can be reduced,” Endang said.

In addition to its impact on health, Endang believes that a preventive approach can also provide economic benefits. Diseases detected earlier are considered to have a greater chance of being treated before they develop into conditions that require greater costs.

Thus, the free health check programme is seen not only as a matter of access to medical services, but also as an effort to reduce the burden of healthcare costs on the public and the state in the long term.

“Therefore, we support and appreciate the Free Health Check Programme as part of efforts to build a health system that is more preventive, easily accessible, and oriented towards the quality of life of the public,” Endang said.

Nevertheless, PSI believes there needs to be strengthening so that the benefits of the programme do not stop at the initial examination.