Indonesia's Government Begins Free TB Screening and Health Checks in 532 Prisons

RRI.CO.ID, Cilacap - The Indonesian government ensures that inmates have the same right to healthcare as the general public. As a manifestation of this commitment, the Ministry of Health, together with the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, launched the "National Kick-Off for Tuberculosis (TB) Screening and Free Health Checks" at the Class IIA Ngaseman Prison on Nusakambangan Island, Cilacap, Central Java, on Monday, June 29, 2026.

This program targets hundreds of thousands of inmates, detainees, juvenile detainees, and correctional officers throughout Indonesia. This activity is part of the President of the Republic of Indonesia's priority program (Quick Win).

In his remarks, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin emphasized that the Ministry of Health is responsible for maintaining the health of all Indonesians without exception. "The President has instructed that this program be implemented for all people, whoever they are, including the 272,000 inmates in more than 532 prisons and detention centers throughout Indonesia," Minister Budi said.

The Minister of Health hopes that regular health checks will help inmates maintain their health while serving their sentences. This way, upon returning to society, they will remain healthy and have a life expectancy similar to the average Indonesian, which is 74 years.

Furthermore, the Minister of Health highlighted the high risk of tuberculosis (TB) transmission in correctional institutions. Based on data, the prevalence of TB cases in prisons has reached 0.54 percent, higher than the national average of 0.3 percent.

The crowded conditions of inmates living in close proximity to each other increase the risk of disease transmission. Therefore, routine screening using chest x-rays is crucial.

He stated that tuberculosis requires special attention to minimize the decline in Indonesia's TB rate. "If detected early and treated, it will definitely be cured and no longer contagious," explained Minister of Health Budi.

In addition to TB, the Minister of Health also affirmed the importance of early detection to prevent non-communicable diseases, such as stroke and heart disease. He advised inmates and officers to be disciplined in maintaining three key health indicators: blood pressure below 120/80 mmHg, blood sugar below 200 mg/dL, and cholesterol below 200 mg/dL.

On the same occasion, Minister of Immigration and Corrections Agus Andrianto expressed his staff's full commitment to the success of the early detection program. He welcomed the collaboration with the Ministry of Health in supporting Indonesia's TB elimination target by 2030.

"Indonesia remains the country with the second-highest number of TB cases in the world after India. Therefore, extraordinary measures are needed, including early detection in correctional environments, which carry a high risk of transmission," Agus underscored.