From Free Health Checks to Family Care, Puskesmas Remains a Healthcare Lifeline

JAKARTA, Jakartaweekly.com— That morning, activity at a community health center, or Puskesmas, in Jakarta was much like any other day. Patients came and went. Some sat waiting for their turn to be examined, while health workers were busy attending to the needs of the community.

Among them was Prasetyo, a private-sector employee who had not come because he was experiencing any health complaints. In February 2025, he visited the Puskesmas to check his overall health through the government’s Free Health Check (Cek Kesehatan Gratis/CKG) program.
The experience went relatively smoothly. Pras registered online, then came to the Puskesmas and waited less than an hour before undergoing the examination.

His blood pressure was checked first. He then underwent an interview about his health, including his mental health, before proceeding to blood and urine tests. The series of examinations concluded with a consultation with a doctor and took around two hours in total.

For Pras, CKG was more than just a free health service. The program gave him an opportunity to learn about his health before any problems emerged that could interfere with his daily activities.

At the same time, the experience also made him aware of several areas that still need improvement, particularly facilities and public outreach. In his view, information about who is eligible for CKG, how to register, where the service is available, whether appointments are available, and the operating hours of Puskesmas facilities is still not easy enough to find.

“CKG is actually beneficial and is a good government program. Unfortunately, the government’s outreach is still very limited, particularly regarding who is eligible to participate, whether registration can be done offline or online, where the program is available, its availability, and the operating hours of Puskesmas facilities. Many people are still unaware of the program,” Pras said.

Despite this, he was satisfied with the service he received and said he would recommend CKG to his family.

For Pras, health checks should not have to wait until the body signals that something is wrong. Early detection, he said, can help people identify health problems they may not have been aware of.

Becoming Part of Everyday Life

CKG is just one of the services that has made Puskesmas facilities increasingly relied upon by the public. For some people, these community health centers have even become part of their families’ healthcare journeys for years.

Emi, 53, is one of them. For more than a decade, the Puskesmas has been the first place she turns to when a member of her family needs medical attention.

Since the government launched the BPJS health insurance program in January 2014, Emi, who is registered as an independent BPJS participant, has increasingly relied on the primary healthcare facility.

Minor illnesses as well as more serious health problems have brought her to the Puskesmas. She has also accompanied her father, who are now 87, for routine medical checkups.

On another occasion, she arranged a referral for her youngest sibling, who was later diagnosed with cervical cancer and has since passed away.
For Atalya, a 32-year-old mother, the Puskesmas has become part of her family’s routine. Every two months, she takes her child to a Posyandu, a community health post, for vaccinations and immunizations.

Their experiences are different, but both show how closely Puskesmas facilities are woven into people’s everyday lives.

Better, but Still Room for Improvement

Today’s Puskesmas is certainly not the same as it was in the past. Emi, who has used the service for years, has noticed the changes.

One of them is the queuing system, which has become easier through the Mobile JKN app. Before the app was introduced, Emi had to arrive at around 6 a.m. and wait more than two hours to see a doctor. Now, registration can be completed online, reducing waiting times.

However, the changes have not eliminated every problem. Emi still finds some of the facilities less than comfortable, particularly for patients who are unwell. For patients with respiratory tract infections who are examined outside the building, for example, she said the portable chairs provided were poorly arranged.

“For patients with respiratory tract infections who need to be examined outside the building, the portable chairs are not properly arranged. We need permanent chairs that are properly set up,” she said.

For elderly patients or those who arrive feeling unwell, such issues may seem minor. Yet the comfort of a waiting area remains part of the overall experience of receiving healthcare.

Atalya has a different concern. She said the equipment and facilities at the Puskesmas she visits are relatively complete, but services remain slow.

Services begin at 8 a.m., but patients are no longer accepted by around midday. She also complained that patients whose family cards and identity cards are registered outside Karawang are not allowed to receive treatment, even if they are willing to pay out of pocket.
She also raised concerns about healthcare workers’ compliance with health protocols.

“Most of the staff are also older and seem to pay less attention to health protocols,” she said.

She recalled seeing a midwife who, while eating, examined her child without washing her hands first. She has also seen administrative staff serving patients while eating snacks.

From Jakarta, the picture changes when the experiences of people in Papua are taken into account.

Citya, a 32-year-old private-sector employee, said many basic healthcare needs in her area remain unmet.

Puskesmas facilities still provide malaria medication free of charge. However, medicines for heart disease are in very limited supply, despite high demand for heart and lung medications.

In remote areas that are still relatively accessible, limitations can also be seen in medical equipment.

“When I went to Pigapu, which is still part of Timika, for example, the equipment was limited. The Puskesmas was also only open a few days a week,” she said.

According to Citya, some of the necessary equipment includes examination beds and equipment for pregnancy checkups. At present, most of the available equipment consists only of stethoscopes and blood pressure monitors.

Judith, 31, shared a similar experience. When she underwent pregnancy and antenatal checkups, she was treated only by a general practitioner who had received relevant training.

In her view, Puskesmas facilities should provide access to obstetricians and gynecologists at least once a week.

“Sometimes general practitioners have to move back and forth between the general clinic and the maternal and child health unit when things get busy. There should be dedicated staff for each unit so that services do not become chaotic and the risk of infection spreading between the two clinics can be reduced,” she said.

Not Just About Building Infrastructure

Amid these various challenges, the government’s plan to allocate Rp4 billion to each Puskesmas has raised new hopes. However, people have different views on what should be prioritized.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the government plans to build 10,000 Puskesmas facilities. The program will target subdistricts that do not yet have primary healthcare facilities, densely populated areas, and Puskesmas facilities that have suffered severe damage.

The government will also provide supporting infrastructure, including electricity, internet access, and ambulances. The program is targeted for completion by 2030.

For Samantha, a lecturer at a private university in Semarang who also uses Puskesmas services, physical construction is not the only need.

She said Puskesmas facilities in strategic locations generally already have adequate facilities to provide basic healthcare. What is more urgent, she believes, is having a sufficient number of competent healthcare workers.

She said the government should prioritize recruiting more young healthcare workers so that services can operate more effectively.

A similar view was expressed by Yunita, a 32-year-old small-business owner. She believes some of the budget could be used to improve administrative services and increase the quality and availability of medicines. She also suggested strengthening BPJS coverage at Puskesmas facilities.

“In my view, it would be better if the budget for BPJS were increased because all healthcare services at Puskesmas facilities depend on BPJS,” she said.

Yunita and Citya both appreciate the various improvements they have seen. However, they hope Puskesmas facilities can operate for longer hours and not stop accepting patients around midday.

Emi has another suggestion. She believes part of the budget could be used to reactivate mobile Puskesmas services on a regular basis.
“My suggestion is that mobile Puskesmas services should also be activated every month in every village or hamlet,” she said.

Meanwhile, Josephine, a 31-year-old freelancer, hopes the funding will also be used to improve doctors’ skills and the competence of general practitioners.

Her own experience has made that need particularly apparent. She once experienced a delayed diagnosis after developing swelling in her throat and cheek. She only received a diagnosis after consulting a specialist.

“It was only when I saw a specialist that I was told I had sinusitis. Imagine if I had not taken the initiative to see a specialist. I might have continued taking repeated high doses of antibiotics without ever getting better,” she said.

She also hopes access to specialists in internal medicine, pulmonology, and ear, nose and throat (ENT) care can be expanded, particularly as many people continue to experience respiratory problems following Covid-19.