**Free Health Check-up Starting in February, Babies to Elderly Can Participate**
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dante Saksono Harbuwono, has announced that a free health check-up program, also known as a medical check-up (MCU), will begin in February 2025. He encouraged citizens to download the SATUSEHAT application if they wish to take advantage of this program.
According to Dante, the free health check-ups will commence next month. He emphasized that those interested in participating in the program should download the SATUSEHAT application beforehand. The initiative was discussed at the Ministry of Population and Family Planning office in East Jakarta on Monday, January 13, 2025.
The health check-up program is open to babies, teenagers, and the elderly celebrating their birthdays. The MCU aims to identify various diseases prevalent in each age group. Dante explained that the diseases are categorized based on the number of illnesses typical for each age group. For instance, congenital diseases such as congenital hypothyroidism are common among infants.
Moreover, teenagers may face comorbid conditions due to lifestyle choices, such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and more. Similarly, the elderly will undergo screenings for specific cancers, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, heart health, and other age-related conditions.
The Ministry of Health is actively identifying additional diseases that can be detected through the free MCU program. Dante expressed hope that this initiative would facilitate early disease detection, leading to better health outcomes for participants.
Before undergoing a health check-up, individuals are required to fill out a questionnaire via the SATUSEHAT application. The questionnaire responses will serve as a reference for individuals seeking free MCU services at health centers.
By offering free health check-ups across various age groups, the government aims to promote preventive healthcare and empower individuals to take charge of their well-being. This proactive approach to healthcare underscores the importance of early detection and intervention in maintaining a healthy population.
