Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Thursday that the initiative will cover more than 52 million school-aged children.
“If any signs of illness are detected, we can take appropriate steps for treatment or further management,” he said.
Since its launch in February 2025, the Free Health Screening program has reached around 11 million people, with about 200,000 participants joining each day, according to Sadikin.
He estimates that by the end of 2025, the number of participants could reach 30 to 40 million.
The long-term goal, he added, is to screen all 280 million Indonesians.
“This is the largest health program ever conducted by the government. This year, we’re targeting 50 million people first,” he said.
To meet that goal, schools are considered key, given their large student population.
Earlier this week, during a coordination meeting on regional inflation control in Jakarta, Sadikin emphasized that bringing the program into schools will help ensure it’s not limited to community health centers.
He also said the initiative presents an opportunity to upgrade medical equipment in schools.
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Translator: Anita Permata, Raka Adji
Editor: Anton Santoso
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