Health Budget Cut, House Of Representatives Commission IX Asks Not To Disturb PKG

Deputy Chairman of Commission IX DPR RI Charles Honoris. (DOC. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The reduction in the health budget of Rp. 19.6 trillion in 2025 should not interfere with public health services, especially since the Government will start the Free Health Check (PKG) program. This was revealed by Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the DPR RI Charles Honoris.

According to him, PKG is a priority government program that will soon be held on Monday (10/2). Budget restrictions cannot be used as an excuse for not doing comprehensive health services for the community in a promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative manner.

"The program's priority scale needs to be carried out to investigate budget constraints. However, not by eliminating any of these types of health services," Charles said when confirmed in Jakarta, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, February 8.

PKG for residents who have their birthdays, he said, there will be examinations of dozens of types (potential) of diseases. Thus, the public will know about their health problems.

With this check, according to him, it is possible that the public will immediately undergo further treatment to health facilities with services borne by BPJS Kesehatan.

That way, the government must anticipate the improvement of post-PKG curative health services (treatment) in the midst of a massive reduction in the health sector.

"Do not let the spike in further treatment of public health problems known through PKG, its health services are not optimal on the grounds of budget constraints," said the representative of the people in the commission in charge of health, employment, and social security.

The Ministry of Health said that the Free Health Check program, which is the largest health program in Indonesia's history, is 280 million people, was officially launched and will start on Monday (10/2).

Director General of Primary Health and Community Maria Endang Sumiwi in Jakarta, Friday (7/2), said that the program is to prevent and deal with the risk of the biggest disease that causes death in each life cycle.