Health Ministry and Immigration Ministry Launch Free TB Screening and Health Checks in Nusakambangan Prisons

The government has affirmed its commitment to guaranteeing healthcare rights for correctional inmates equal to those of the general public. This concrete step was realised through the launch of a Tuberculosis (TB) screening and Free Health Check (CKG) programme, which commenced at the Class IIA Ngaseman Prison on Nusakambangan Island, Cilacap, Central Java, on Monday (29/6). The programme, part of the President of the Republic of Indonesia’s priority agenda (Quick Win), targets hundreds of thousands of convicts, detainees, juvenile inmates, and correctional officers across the country. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that the state bears full responsibility for the health of all citizens without exception. “The President instructed that this programme be carried out for the entire community, whoever they are, including the 272,000 inmates in more than 532 prisons and detention centres throughout Indonesia,” Budi said in a statement on Tuesday (30/6). This routine health screening is expected to maintain the physical condition of inmates during their sentence. The target is that upon returning to society, they will have a life expectancy equal to the national average of 74 years. In addition to basic physical examinations, the programme’s primary focus is the early detection of communicable and non-communicable diseases. The Health Minister highlighted the very high risk of TB transmission in prison environments due to overcrowding. Data shows TB prevalence in prisons reaches 0.54%, far exceeding the national average of 0.3%. Chest X-rays are a crucial instrument in this screening. “TB is contagious and should not be underestimated. But treatment is available. If detected early, treatment ensures recovery and prevents further transmission,” stressed Minister Budi. Minister of Immigration and Corrections, Agus Andrianto, welcomed this collaboration as a significant step towards Indonesia’s target of eliminating TB by 2030. Given that Indonesia ranks second globally for TB cases after India, early detection in high-risk environments such as prisons is a top priority. According to the Acting Director General of Disease Prevention and Control at the Health Ministry, Andi Saguni, the programme will be implemented in stages until the end of 2026. As a form of tangible support, the Health Ministry provided medical equipment assistance worth IDR 2.2 billion to strengthen services at the Nusakambangan Corrections General Hospital. This assistance resulted from collaboration between the Health Ministry’s vertical hospitals (Fatmawati Hospital, Dharmais Cancer Hospital, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital) and private sector partners. Minister Agus Andrianto confirmed that some of the medical equipment has been received and will soon be optimised to improve the quality of healthcare services in prison and detention centre clinics across Indonesia.