The First-Year Effect of Indonesia’s Free Health Screening Program on Drug Planning and Use in Primary Health Centre

Abstract

Background: The implementation of the Indonesia’s Free Health Screening Program increases healthcare utilization and may alter drug demand in primary healthcare settings. This study aimed to evaluate the conformity between drug planning and actual utilization during Indonesia’s Free Health Screening Program implementation and to assess its implications for drug management efficiency. Methods: This study employed an analytical observational design with a retrospective comparative approach by analyzing Drug Requirement Plans for 2025, drug consumption data from 2023, and actual drug utilization in 2025. Results: The conformity of drugs with the National Formulary was high (88.93–91.89%). However, planning accuracy was suboptimal, with overplanning (50%) and under planning (38%) dominating, and overall item conformity at 81.51%. Increased service utilization due to Indonesia’s Free Health Screening Program significantly influenced changes in drug consumption patterns that were not captured by historical-based planning. Conclusion: The findings indicate that drug planning systems based solely on historical consumption are insufficient in the context of large-scale health programs. Adaptive planning models incorporating real-time data and service utilization trends are required to improve the efficiency of drug management in primary healthcare settings.