Indonesia expands free health checks and TB screening programs

Indonesia is intensifying its public health efforts through widespread free health check-ups (CKG) and tuberculosis (TB) screening programs. The Ministry of Health reported that 1.6 million out of 34 million CKG participants have indicated vision impairments, prompting calls for enhanced eye health screening and increased access to cataract surgeries.

In Central Java, regional authorities are prioritizing TB elimination. In Jepara, Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus praised active screening efforts targeting close contacts of TB patients, noting that 107 out of 161 planned screening locations have been completed. Meanwhile, in Demak, Deputy Home Affairs Minister Akhmad Wiyagus proposed using the district as a national model for TB management due to its high success rate in tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT), achieved through cross-sector collaboration and door-to-door community engagement.

Other localized health initiatives include TB screenings at the Martapura Class IIB Prison and mobile specialist doctor programs in Jepara. Additionally, the Gerindra Party has implemented mobile doctor services in Tasikmalaya to provide free medical examinations and vitamins to hundreds of families.