JAKARTA: A government programme offering free health screenings to citizens on their birthdays, an initiative of President Prabowo Subianto, saw lacklustre uptake at its launch on Monday (Feb 10).
At the Mandala Community Health Center (Puskesmas) in Lebak regency, Banten, only one patient registered for a free health screening on Monday, even though each puskesmas nationwide has been allocated a daily quota of 30 participants.
"His birthday was actually on Sunday, but we were closed that day, so he came in today for his tests," said the head of the puskesmas’ administrative division, Muhammad Aziz Muslim, as quoted by Kompas.
Aziz said he was unsure why the turnout had been so low, as the health centre had made efforts to publicise the programme, including on social media.
"Perhaps the public isn't fully aware of the programme yet, or maybe it just isn't their birthday," he suggested.
The acting head of the Lebak Health Agency, Budhi Mulyanto, said one reason for the low participation was that many people had not yet installed the government’s Satu Sehat app.
"Some residents also do not own [mobile] devices, so they cannot access the app," Budhi said. The government requires citizens to apply for the screening through the Satu Sehat Mobile health service app. At the health facility, they must present their ID card, a confirmation from the app and a completed registration form.
A puskesmas in Pematangsiantar, North Sumatra, saw no participants for the free health screening programme on Monday, despite offering residents the option to register onsite instead of through the government health app.
"Our staff is ready to assist with registration as long as you bring your ID, but so far, no one has signed up for the programme," said the head of the public health division at the Pematangsiantar Health Agency, Fitri Sari Saragih, on Monday afternoon.
The Blitar Health Agency in East Java, meanwhile, reported that only three of the 25 puskesmas in the regency had received requests for free health screenings on Monday.
"Only two or three people signed up for the screening in the three puskesmas," agency head Christine Indrawati said on Monday. Despite the lackluster response to the programme, Christine expressed concern about the limited manpower at the puskesmas to sustain the screenings over the long term.
"Each puskesmas in Blitar has one or two doctors, one pharmacist and five to seven nurses, all of whom are already occupied with daily healthcare services. If more people show interest in the free health screening, we may face difficulties in handling the influx," she said.
The free health screenings are available for children up to six years old and adults over 18, while children aged seven to 17 will receive their screenings at school, as part of a second phase to begin in July.
The screenings, which are not mandatory, include blood pressure tests, tests to determine the risk of heart problems and stroke and eye tests.
The tests are offered at 10,000 puskesmas and 15,000 clinics partnered with the state-owned Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan).
The ambitious programme aims to reach 100 million recipients this year, with state funding totalling Rp 3 trillion (US$ 183.2 million).
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Monday that some 17,000 people were tested across some 20,000 health facilities nationwide on the first day of the programme. Budi said the programme aimed to help citizens live longer, healthier lives and ease the burden on the National Health Insurance (JKN) system. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
