Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Harbuwono appealed to the community to access early cancer detection services through the government's free health screening program.
During the 2025 World Cancer Day commemoration event monitored online here on Tuesday, he highlighted that early cancer detection significantly enhances recovery chances for individuals.
"As part of the efforts to increase awareness and early detection, the government will carry out the free health screening program," he remarked.
He elaborated that the program, which offers screening services to people on their birthdays, includes the early detection of priority cancers, namely cervical cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer, as well as childhood cancer.
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This step is taken to increase opportunities for treatment that is more effective and improve the life expectancy of patients.
In addition to the health aspect, early detection is linked to lower healthcare costs, as it allows for faster treatment with a higher recovery rate.
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He ensured that the government had allocated a budget for cancer treatment financing through cancer, heart disease, stroke, and urology and nephrology (KJSU) services to improve referral mechanisms and increase access and quality of hospital services and services for national priority diseases.
"Cancer treatment must be covered, and drugs must be available. If treated in the early stages, cancer treatment can show a high success rate," he emphasized.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, new cancer cases number approximately 408,661 annually, with deaths reaching 242,988 per year in the country.
