Indonesia launches free health screening programme to prevent early deaths

This is biggest-ever initiative undertaken by the health ministry to prevent early deaths.

The Indonesian government launched an annual free health screening on February 10 worth 3 trillion IDR (183.54 million USD) from the state budget.

This is biggest-ever initiative undertaken by the health ministry to prevent early deaths.

Under the programme, all Indonesians will eventually be entitled to a free screening on their birthday, the ministry said.

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Photo: The Straits Times

The screening, which is not mandatory, includes blood pressure, tests to determine the risk of heart problems or stroke, and eye tests, it noted.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that the programme is initially targeting under-sixes and adults aged 18 and over.

The screening programme aims to provide free health check-ups for 100 million people, thus promoting preventive health care in the Southeast Asian nation, he added.
Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that the leading causes of death in the country are stroke, heart disease and tuberculosis./.

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