North Sumatra targets 7.3 million in free health checks in 2026
Screenings in North Sumatra also flag anxiety and stress, with teenagers the most commonly identified group.
The North Sumatra provincial government is targeting 7.3 million residents, equal to 46 percent of the population, to receive Free Health Check services in 2026. Through June, the North Sumatra Health Office recorded 3.2 million residents have used the program at 619 puskesmas across regencies and cities. Head of the Public Health Division at the North Sumatra Health Office, Hery Valona Bonatua Ambarita, said the 2025 achievement stands at 22.56 percent, but ranks fourth best nationally. Beyond physical screenings, the program is also used for early detection of mental health problems. Of about 2.8 million screening participants, indications were found of people with mental health issues, especially anxiety and stress symptoms. Teenagers were cited as the most commonly identified group, in part because of schoolwork burdens, while economic pressure was the main trigger among adults.