Jakarta (ANTARA) – Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that the Free Health Check (CKG) program is a government initiative to improve Life Expectancy and Healthy Average Life Expectancy (HALE) for Indonesians.He said in Jakarta on Wednesday that recent data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) show an increase in the average lifespan of Indonesians from 72 to 74 years, aligning with the global average.He pointed out that women tend to live longer, with an average age of 76 compared to 71.9 for men.”In Indonesia, the average Healthy Average Life Expectancy is 65, according to WHO data—66 for women and 64 for men. So, imagine: the average Indonesian lives to 74, but by age 65, they are already in poor health,” Sadikin said.Speaking at the 2026 National Women's Health Forum, he noted that many people at those ages are already undergoing dialysis or struggling with paralysis, Alzheimer's, and strokes, significantly diminishing their quality of life.To this end, the Ministry of Health is working to improve life expectancy and HALE, with a focus on promoting healthy lifestyles as the most effective and efficient path forward.The minister asserted that promotive and preventive strategies are far more effective than a purely curative approach.He further highlighted the leading causes of death in Indonesia, which include stroke, heart disease, cancer, and kidney disease.These four diseases, he noted, develop over time, meaning there is still an opportunity to improve health outcomes through regular health screenings.The minister emphasized that there are three key health indicators that must be monitored: blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.Launched on February 10, 2025, the CKG program aims to elevate the quality of health for all Indonesians, with a target of eventually reaching the country's entire population of over 280 million.