BPJS Kesehatan Chief Launches Hospital Ship to Serve Remote Islands

Surabaya - BPJS Kesehatan President Director Prihati Pujowaskito has dispatched the Ksatria Airlangga Hospital Ship (RSKKA) to the island regions of Sumenep, Madura. “In the BPJS Kesehatan service process, we strive to equalise access across all regions,” Prihati stated at Tanjung Perak, Surabaya, on Sunday. He explained that the ship would provide healthcare to residents in the Sumenep archipelago, including Raas Island, Karamian Island, and Masalembu Island, which are very remote and rarely visited by health services. “If an area does not yet have a health facility that meets the requirements, BPJS Kesehatan can provide compensation to organise mobile services provided there is a letter from the local government,” he said. Prihati explained that this collaborative programme is part of the implementation of JKN 3T, which is now a primary focus for BPJS Kesehatan to expand the reach of the National Health Insurance in frontier, remote, and underdeveloped regions. Director of Ksatria Airlangga Hospital, Dr Agus Harianto, said the programme runs from 14 to 24 July 2026 across several island areas. “Our target is to prepare for a minimum of 100 patients per island. But the total number of patients by the end of the programme usually reaches thousands,” he said. He explained that the high patient numbers are influenced by the needs of residents on the destination islands as well as the arrival of residents from surrounding islands who come alongside the ship’s berthing location. “The medical team targets an average of five major operations per day on each island, while minor operations can be performed in greater numbers according to need and referrals from local health facilities,” he stated.