Indonesia to deploy air ambulances and flying doctors for remote regions

The Indonesian government is planning to deploy air ambulances and flying medical teams to improve healthcare access in remote regions. President Prabowo Subianto announced that the initiative aims to prevent fatalities caused by long travel times to medical facilities, noting reports of patients, including mothers in labor, traveling seven to nine hours due to poor road and bridge infrastructure.

The air ambulance fleet will consist of helicopters and small aircraft capable of landing on grass, sand, or riverbanks. In addition to air transport, the government intends to deploy flying doctor teams to reach areas with severe illnesses or those affected by disasters.

Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi noted that the plan also includes mobile dental units to address the shortage of medical professionals. While the government works to increase the production of new doctors and specialists, these mobile services serve as an immediate solution to the significant gap in healthcare worker distribution across the country.