President Prabowo Launches Free Health Check Program, This Is IDI's Reaction

JAKARTA - President Prabowo has launched a free health check program. For this plan, the General Chairperson of the Indonesian Doctors Association (PB IDI) DR. Dr. Moh. Adib Khumaidi, SpOT, reacted that the decision was a step forward towards a healthy Indonesia.

"This free health check program will have a positive impact on the community," Adib said in a press release received in Jakarta, Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Adib said this initiative would also increase early detection efforts for diseases, increase awareness of the importance of health, and reduce the burden of financing from the administration of treatment.

Broadly speaking, this program contributes to achieving sustainable development targets (SDGs), particularly related to health and welfare.

In addition, this initiative not only provides more equitable access to health for the community, but also shows the government's commitment to improving the quality of life of the Indonesian people.

PB IDI supports the implementation of free health checks for the public by recommending a number of things, including ensuring the availability of competent medical personnel and adequate equipment in every health facility; conducting continuous training for medical personnel to improve expertise in early detection of the disease.

The surge ensures the availability of needed medicines; expand program coverage to remote areas and marginal communities; add a type of examination that is tailored to the needs of the community.

Next, increasing coordination between the central and regional governments in program implementation; and conducting massive socialization campaigns to increase public awareness about the importance of routine health checks.

Then, conduct periodic evaluations to measure program effectiveness and make improvements if necessary; collect relevant data and information to support decision making.

Subsequent recommendations are to maximize the function and benefits of the One Healthy application from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia as a platform that manages integrated health check data for life to monitor maintenance and health promotion facilities; and socialization to the public to take advantage of the Personal Health Record which contains health information.

Case studies in Japan, which also implements a health check system for its residents, have identified a number of problems, including a uniform lack of standards for information on health check results, a lack of integrated platforms to store and share information, management of information data on infants and students separately/unintegrated, information management and health education from infants to workers and the elderly have not been carried out.

Adib stated that the free health check program was a good first step in realizing a healthy Indonesia.

With the support of all parties, including the government, medical personnel, and the community, this program can provide greater benefits for all Indonesian people.

He added that IDI as a professional medical organization is always ready to become a government strategy partner and collaborate to ensure the success of this program to create a healthy Indonesia.

"Let's support and oversee this program together so that the benefits can be felt by all levels of society," concluded Adib.