Madiun Regency Government optimises community health centres to boost free health check-up programme coverage

The Madiun Regency Government in East Java is optimising the function of community health centres (puskesmas) to boost the realisation of the Cek Kesehatan Gratis (CKG) free health screening programme, which has only reached 50.56 percent of the total targeted population.

Widya Wardani, Head of Health Services at the Madiun Regency Health Office, said on Thursday that CKG coverage in Madiun Regency still has a shortfall of around 20 percent from the target that must be pursued.

“Our target for 2026 is 70 percent of the target population. The population according to Dukcapil data is 738,670 people. As of 17 August, coverage has reached 50.62 percent,” said Widya.

To accelerate this achievement, the Madiun Regency Health Office is optimising CKG services through the 26 existing puskesmas. Examinations are not only conducted at the main puskesmas but also reach integrated health posts (posyandu), village maternity clinics (polindes), and auxiliary puskesmas (pustu).

In addition, the Madiun Regency Health Office is also partnering with schools, foundations, and Islamic boarding schools to conduct health screenings. The elderly group is also a target for examination.

These measures are expected to boost CKG coverage so that the 70 percent target can be achieved by the end of 2026.

“We begin CKG implementation with complaint screening. For example, if someone frequently urinates at night, we recommend a blood sugar test. If a cough lasts more than two weeks accompanied by other symptoms, we recommend a tuberculosis examination,” she said.

In the implementation of CKG, a number of non-communicable diseases remain dominant findings, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease.

Officers also provide counselling, including encouraging the adoption of the Healthy Living Community Movement (Germas), dietary management, consumption of fruits and vegetables, and adequate physical activity.

If a patient’s condition requires further treatment, the Health Office will make a referral to a hospital.

Although public enthusiasm is quite high, the Madiun Regency Health Office acknowledges that it has not yet reached all target groups. Therefore, an acceleration strategy will be carried out by expanding examination locations.

“CKG also targets the general public who have never been detected or examined. So the targets include Prolanis patients as well as the wider community,” said Widya.