Buku Kesehatan (Migrant Worker Health Record Book) in Indonesia

Under Article 1 point 6 of Permenkes Number 29 of 2013. Buku Kesehatan is a book containing records of the health status of a prospective Indonesian migrant worker (calon TKI) before departure. During placement, and after returning to Indonesia. It is handed directly to the worker (Article 17(1)) and is separate from the facility's medical record (Article 7(1) and (3)).

Role in Pre-Departure Medical Examinations

A medical team led by an internal medicine specialist examines the prospective worker and determines fit-to-work or unfit status (Article 5(1)-(2)). A fit-to-work result is recorded in both the medical record and the Buku Kesehatan (Article 7(3)). Candidates declared fit must receive both a Health Certificate (Sertifikat Kesehatan) and a Buku Kesehatan, while unfit candidates receive an unfit statement letter (Article 16(1)-(2)).

Contents and How Workers Use It

The book contains worker identity, a pre-departure examination summary, and treatment history (Article 18(4)). Workers must carry it and ask examining doctors to record their health status whenever visiting a healthcare facility before departure, during placement abroad. In addition, After returning home (Article 7(5)). This enables health personnel to evaluate the worker's longitudinal health status (Article 7(4)).

The original Health Certificate and Buku Kesehatan are given to the worker (Article 17(1)). Placement agencies (PPTKIS, now P3MI under Law 18/2017 as amended by Law 6/2023 Article 84 point 1) receive only a legalized copy of the Health Certificate (Article 17(2)). At the same time, The Buku Kesehatan and individual clinical records remain with the worker and medical team.

Rules for Examining Facilities (Sarana Kesehatan)

Only hospitals or main clinics designated by the Minister of Health may examine prospective migrant workers (Article 11(1)). Book blanks are issued by the Ministry of Health through the provincial health office (Articles 18(1), 20(1)). Each book must be signed by the internal medicine specialist leading the team and the head of the Sarana Kesehatan (Article 16(3)). Damaged or miswritten blanks must be reported and returned to the provincial health office (Article 22).

Legal basis: Permenkes Number 29 of 2013 Articles 1 points 4 and 6, 5, 7, 11, 16-18, 20, 22, 23, and Annex III. Law Number 6 of 2023 Annex Article 84 point 1 (amending Article 1 of Law Number 18 of 2017).