Yogyakarta, September 21, 2025 – The Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with Taman Pintar, held a Free Health Check program as a form of concern for public health. The people of Yogyakarta enthusiastically welcomed the free health check held at the Health Zone of Taman Pintar Yogyakarta over three days, on September 13, 14, and 21, 2025.
The choice of Taman Pintar as the location, due to its strategic position, made this activity unique. While enjoying tourism and learning science, visitors were also invited to pay more attention to their health. Some participants admitted that the program gave them a new experience. “Usually we come to Taman Pintar just for the kids to learn, but this time the parents could also get a health check since it has been a long time,” said one visitor.
Under the coordination of Dr. apt. Nunung Yuniarti, M.Si., and supervising lecturers, pharmacy professional students encouraged the community to be more health-conscious. Through this activity, visitors had the opportunity to undergo free examinations of blood pressure, blood sugar, uric acid, and cholesterol. The program successfully attracted around one hundred visitors each day to have their health checked.
From the morning, visitors eagerly lined up for examination numbers. Many families came with their children and took the time to check the health condition of the parents. This was supported by one participant’s testimony: “I came here with my grandchild, and luckily this program was available, so I could know my body condition without going to the hospital first,” the participant said.
Students and lecturers on duty not only carried out examinations but also provided brief explanations of the results. Participants with elevated sugar or cholesterol levels, for example, were given advice on diet, exercise, and the importance of further consultation. In this way, the program did not stop at test results but extended to education on healthy lifestyles.
Figure 2. Health check in progress
This program is one of the field practices required for pharmacy professional students as real-world training to prepare themselves to serve the community. Students learn how to communicate with patients, convey health information in simple terms, and cultivate empathy as healthcare providers—an essential foundation for becoming professional pharmacists.
According to program coordinator Dr. apt. Nunung Yuniarti, M.Si., from the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM, this program is part of ongoing efforts to raise public health awareness. “We want to show that even simple examinations can play a big role in disease prevention. Hopefully, people will become more accustomed to routinely monitoring their health,” she explained.
With such strong public enthusiasm, similar programs are expected to continue regularly. The collaboration between UGM and Taman Pintar serves as a concrete example of how health education can be delivered inclusively, attractively, and closely to the community. This initiative also aligns with the values of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, which ensures healthy lives and promotes well-being for all at all ages. In addition, the educational aspect brought by the students also supports SDG 4: Quality Education, by spreading health knowledge in a way that is easily understood by the wider public.
