Health Ministry prepares X-ray for puskesmas in Bandung to boost TB screening

Bandung, West Java (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Health will provide X-ray equipment to Puskesmas M Ramdan in Bandung, West Java, as an effort to increase the coverage of tuberculosis (TB) screening, and suggests that the puskesmas integrate such screening into the Free Health Check (CKG).

“Later, we will distribute X-rays to all puskesmas, so that puskesmas can perform X-rays, and it can be detected whether there is tuberculosis or not in the CKG. This is still in the drafting stage and evaluation stage regarding funding,” said Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Harbuwono in Bandung, West Java, on Tuesday.

He conveyed this during a review of the screening achievements at the puskesmas. He also suggested integrating TB screening with the Free Health Check (CKG) to expand coverage.

“Because tuberculosis has symptomatic cases, early-stage ones, and advanced ones. Sometimes the advanced and early-stage ones are not detected. That’s why include it in the CKG, so it can be seen,” he said.

Dante highlighted the importance of CKG in preventing various diseases, including non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, cavities, kidney failure, and others.

He mentioned that such checks usually cost Rp2 million to Rp3 million, but are provided for free by President Prabowo Subianto as an investment for all Indonesian people.

On the same occasion, the Head of the West Java Health Office, R Vini Adiani Dewi, said that from the beginning, the province has issued a circular mandating every government agency to conduct CKG.

That, according to Vini, is part of the initiative in the Bandung Basin, which covers the City of Bandung, Bandung Regency, West Bandung Regency, Sumedang Regency, and Cimahi City.

“All five regions are actually efforts to tackle poverty. But one of the focuses is health,” said Vini.