Breakthrough Floating Ambulance on the Musi River

Palembang, VIVA – Rapid and adequate access to healthcare services remains a major challenge for communities in riverine areas and remote regions. In response to this issue, the South Sumatra Regional Police (Polda Sumatera Selatan) through its Water and Air Police Directorate (Ditpolairud) has introduced an innovation in the form of a floating ambulance now operating along the Musi River and its surroundings. This innovation represents a concrete step in providing emergency healthcare services to communities that have previously struggled to reach medical facilities due to transportation limitations and geographical conditions. The floating ambulance is a modification of the Polairud patrol boat, namely Pol V-1027 Upang. The vessel is now functioning as an emergency medical evacuation facility that can reach coastal areas and remote villages. This step was taken because many areas in South Sumatra are dominated by waterways, making residents’ mobility heavily reliant on river routes. This condition often leads to delayed medical treatment, particularly in emergency situations. The floating ambulance is not just an ordinary boat. It is equipped with various medical facilities such as a patient room, emergency stretcher, oxygen, and other basic medical equipment. Additionally, a communication system has been prepared to ensure smooth coordination with referral hospitals. Polairud personnel are on standby 24 hours a day to respond to every emergency report. The evacuation process begins with picking up the patient from the dock, then directly transporting them to a referral hospital in Palembang, with a travel time of about one hour. Since it has been operational, the floating ambulance has assisted various medical cases in riverine areas, from mothers experiencing emergency labour, patients with sudden health conditions, to children requiring intensive care. In addition, the facility is also used for other humanitarian activities, including the evacuation of bodies from remote areas that are difficult to access by land vehicles. The South Sumatra Police Chief, Sandi Nugroho, emphasised that the presence of the floating ambulance is a form of the Indonesian National Police’s (Polri) commitment to providing equitable services. “We want to ensure that communities in riverine areas also receive quick and proper access to healthcare services. This is a tangible form of the state’s presence,” he stated firmly.