Indonesia’s President-elect Prabowo Subianto plans to implement a free medical check-up program for 55 million Indonesians starting from 2025, focusing on key health indicators and early detection of severe diseases. This initiative is part of broader healthcare reforms and aims to combat tuberculosis, a major public health challenge in the country. The program will initially target individuals over the age of 50 and those at high risk of contracting TB or other serious illnesses, with plans to expand to cover 200 million citizens over the next five years.
To fund this ambitious health initiative, Prabowo’s government has allocated 5 trillion rupiah from the 2025 draft State Budget, with a significant portion going towards the free medical check-up program and improving healthcare infrastructure. This includes funding for new hospitals and healthcare facilities. The goal of the initiatives is not only to provide treatment but also to promote preventive care and healthy living among Indonesians, reducing the financial burden on the Social Security Agency for Health (BPJS Kesehatan) that currently covers a large portion of the population’s healthcare costs.
Despite the ambitious goals set by Prabowo, questions still remain about how this new program will integrate with existing healthcare services in Indonesia. The director-general of Indonesia’s national health care agency, BPJS Kesehatan, mentioned that health screening programs are already in place annually for all participants under the National Health Insurance scheme. Discussions are ongoing with Prabowo’s administration on whether BPJS Kesehatan will be involved in administering the new program or managing payment schemes. Health experts have expressed cautious optimism about the program, with some supporting it as a significant preventive measure to improve public health standards and reduce future healthcare costs.
Health experts see the focus on preventive care as a way to reduce the burden on the national healthcare budget and improve the overall health of the population. By encouraging early detection and routine health monitoring, the program aims to build a healthier and more productive generation of Indonesians. The free medical check-up program is seen as a vital step towards safeguarding the health of Indonesia’s human resources and promoting a healthier lifestyle among its citizens. Despite some uncertainties about the program’s integration with existing healthcare services, the overall goal is to improve public health standards and reduce healthcare costs in the long run.
