Indonesia Intensifies Heart Screening to Reduce Mortality

The Indonesian Ministry of Health is intensifying the implementation of heart screening programs for the public to reduce mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases. This initiative underscores the importance of early detection and intervention. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in Indonesia. Cases of delayed early diagnosis are common, particularly in rural areas and among economically vulnerable populations, due to limited access to healthcare and lack of awareness. To bridge this gap, the Ministry of Health plans to increase screening opportunities within communities and expand training for healthcare workers. Specifically, efforts will focus on improving screening capabilities at the primary care level and strengthening the identification and follow-up system for high-risk groups. Public awareness campaigns will also be promoted to disseminate knowledge about heart disease risk factors (such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and smoking) and encourage healthy lifestyle habits. This initiative aims to improve the overall quality of Indonesia's healthcare system and extend the healthy life expectancy of its citizens in the long term. Focusing on cost-effective preventive healthcare is also expected to reduce future healthcare costs. Source: Antara News (English)