"We want all citizens to have their health screened at least once a year on their birthday," he said at the launch of a government regulation for ensuring greater online safety of children at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Friday.
He made the statement in reference to the Free Health Checks program, which provides residents across the country the opportunity to access free health examination services within 30 days from their birthday.
The President noted that despite the program, which was launched on February 10 this year, some residents remain hesitant to undergo health checks.
"Although the government has provided such convenience, I was informed that many people are still reluctant to check their health, possibly due to fear of the results. Keep in mind that health screening is crucial for identifying necessary early treatments," he stressed.
He affirmed that the Free Health Checks program is the government's way of improving citizens' health and enabling them to prevent diseases through early detection.
With this in mind, the head of state expressed the hope that the initiative would help raise awareness about the importance of maintaining health and encourage people to make the most of the facilities the government offers.
Earlier, on March 21, 2025, Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, reported that the program has garnered over one million registrants nationwide.
He informed that the number of participants increased steadily, with approximately 90 thousand people enrolling each day.
Sadikin also noted that the government is aiming for 150 thousand daily participants to meet the target of covering 50 million citizens through the program this year.
Translator: Andi F/Genta T, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
