PCO Claims The Community Saves More Than IDR 1 Million Thanks To Free Health Checks

Left-right: Deputy I For Communication And Information Materials Of PCO Muhammad Isra Ramli, Deputy Transmigration Of Viva Yoga Mauladi, Spokesperson For The Ministry Of Health Widyawati/ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Presidential Communication Office (PCO) projects that every citizen can save up to more than IDR 1 million in health checks by participating in the free health check program provided by the government.

"The value (person's health check savings) if converted is around Rp. 1 million if they have to pay (respectively)," said Deputy I for Communication and Information Materials PCO Muhammad Isra Ramli as reported by ANTARA, Monday, February 10.

However, he stated that the value of savings must vary per individual, considering that each program participant gets a special inspection service that is adjusted to the age and burden of the most disease in each target age group.

For newborns, a Kongenital Hydroroid Screening (SHK) will be conducted or a lack of thyroid hormone since the womb and screening of the G6PD, an enzyme that is important in keeping red cells healthy.

Toddlers and preschoolers will undergo growth checks, early development and detection of diseases such as tuberculosis, hearing loss, eye problems, teeth, talasemia, and blood sugar.

At an adult age, the examination will include an evaluation of cardiovascular and lung risk factors, such as tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PPOK).

In addition, early detection of breast cancer, uterine neck cancer, lung cancer, and intestinal cancer, function of senses, as well as mental health and prospective brides.

Meanwhile, examinations of the elderly (elderly) will focus on the detection of general health problems, such as geriatry (elderly health), cardiovascular disorders, lungs, liver, cancer, sensory function, and mental health.

The government also plans to provide free health checks specifically for school-age children and adolescents as well as pregnant women.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Widyawati stated that the service provided by the free health check program is basic health screening, not treatment or follow-up.

He stated that the purpose of the program is to analyze whether there are health conditions that can trigger someone to contract certain diseases.

"For the screening itself later with the officers, with the doctor, it can be about 10 minutes (participants) because (need) to be asked about his history and all kinds of things," explained Widyawati.

The free health check program is held for the first time today at 17 health centers in the Greater Jakarta and East Java areas.

One of the locations for the program was the Tebet Health Center, South Jakarta, which was attended by the Deputy Minister of Transmigration (Wamentrans) Viva Yoga Mauladi, Deputy I for Communication and Information Materials PCO Muhammad Isra Ramli, and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health Widyawati.

Acting (Plt) Head of the Tebet Santayana Health Center said the costs spent on early detection of uterine cancer, one of the screening services provided for adult women, could exceed Rp1 million.

"There was an early detection of uterine cancer carried out at the Puskesmas using the HPV-DNA method and from the brochures that I had received one examination, it was Rp. 1,250,000 elsewhere," said Santayana.