Free Health Checks Not For Curatives, But Focus On Disease Prevention

JAKARTA - Health checks do not have to wait for the pain to come. This is the spirit that wants to be built through the Free Health Check Program (CKG) initiative from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia which aims to encourage people to care more about their body condition from an early age.

This program targets an old mindset that tends to be reactive, and seeks to turn it into more proactive through a preventive and promotive approach.

Head of the Indonesian Ministry of Health's Health Development Policy Agency, Asnawi Abdullah, emphasized that so far many people have only come to health facilities when the disease has developed. Through CKG, people are encouraged to check themselves when they are still in good health, so that the potential risk of disease can be identified earlier.

"So far, people have only come to health facilities when they are sick. Now, we encourage them to come when they are still healthy, so they can find out whether or not there are risk factors for disease," he said as quoted by ANTARA.

With early detection, the public can take steps to prevent or control various potential diseases before developing into serious conditions. If from the results of the examination, certain symptoms are found, participants will be immediately directed to receive further treatment at appropriate health facilities.

"If a disease is found, of course we will immediately follow up. It can be referred from the puskesmas to the hospital in order to get faster and more appropriate treatment," explained Asnawi.

Under certain conditions, program participants can take advantage of further services through the National Health Insurance (JKN) scheme. However, Asnawi also reminded the importance of ensuring activeness as a participant in BPJS Health so that all stages of service can be accessed without obstacles.

"Services at the puskesmas are free. But if you need treatment at the hospital, then there must be an active participation of BPJS Kesehatan. That's why we encourage people to keep their contributions active," he said.

Through this program, the government hopes that the public will not only come to health facilities when conditions are severe, but will start to build awareness that prevention is the best form of treatment. Health checks are now not only for those who are sick, but for everyone who wants to stay healthy.