Jakarta, August 11, 2025 — The Senior Expert at the Presidential Communication Office (PCO), Hariqo Wibawa Satria, described the Free Health Check (CKG) program as the first step toward a healthier nation—one that begins by changing how people think about maintaining their well-being.
“CKG is the starting line toward freedom from disease. This is where awareness grows, prompting people to make health a lifelong priority,” Hariqo said on Monday (8/11).
Hariqo expressed hope that with each passing Independence Day on August 17, not only would the nation celebrate another year of freedom, but also see a growing number of Indonesians liberated from illness.
To achieve this, President Prabowo’s administration has rolled out comprehensive and continuous priority programs—from CKG and the “Stop TB” campaign to revitalizing regional public hospitals and providing special allowances for medical specialists serving in remote, border, and island regions (DTPK).
While Indonesia marks its 80th year of independence, Hariqo noted, the country is still burdened by disease—an economic and social weight on its people.
Life expectancy currently stands between 73 and 74 years, but illnesses remain a major drag on productivity and gross domestic product (GDP).
Studies have shown that lost productivity due to illness—through absenteeism, reduced work performance, and early retirement—shaved about 6.5 percent off GDP in 2015. Left unchecked, that figure could climb to 7.2 percent by 2030.
The burden is compounded by economic losses from smoking, which in 2019 cost the country between Rp184 trillion and Rp410 trillion (1.16–2.59 percent of GDP). Obesity costs are estimated at Rp368 trillion, while tropical diseases like leptospirosis drain more than US$2.8 billion annually.
“This data underscores that investing in health is not merely a social expense, but a strategic economic asset,” Hariqo said.
He also pointed out that many Indonesian children suffer from diabetes, obesity, and tooth decay due to a lack of information and health education. Excessive gadget use, he added, is impairing children’s vision.
“This is why CKG is so important—not only as preventive action but also as a form of health education,” he said.
The aim is that, with each Independence Day, the nation also marks progress toward having more citizens free from illness, enabling them to contribute fully to national development and economic growth.
“A healthy population directly boosts life expectancy and drives human resource productivity,” he stressed.
Improved public health, he added, would significantly increase the contribution of a healthy workforce to GDP. Various studies suggest GDP could grow by 1–2 percent annually if illness rates drop sharply.
