How the Post-Disaster Rehabilitation Task Force Restored Healthcare Facilities in Sumatra's Affected Areas

Hydrometeorolorical disasters struck the regions of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra in late 2025. The tragedy significantly impacted healthcare facilities (faskes) across the three provinces.

The Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Task Force (Satgas PRR) for Sumatra recorded 3,476 healthcare facilities affected by the disaster.

This figure comprises 87 government hospitals, 867 community health centres (puskesmas), and 2,522 assistant health centres (pustu).

However, all government hospitals and community health centres have now resumed full operations thanks to the swift action of Satgas PRR. Currently, 21 assistant health centres remain in the cleaning and renovation phase.

The head of Satgas PRR for Post-Disaster Sumatra, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, commended the swift response of the Ministry of Health in ensuring healthcare facilities recovered quickly.

“I have observed that healthcare facilities, particularly district hospitals, are operating most quickly compared to other sectors. The Health Minister went directly to the field, sent numerous volunteers even to mountainous areas,” said Tito in a written statement received by Kompas.com.

This was stated by Tito during the inauguration of the distribution of ambulances and medical equipment aid to disaster-affected areas at the Ministry of Health on Thursday (12 March 2026).

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin revealed that the ministry worked to ensure all affected healthcare facilities resumed operations early in the post-disaster recovery phase.

This swift action was undertaken to ensure affected residents could quickly access healthcare services.

Budi stated that within two weeks, most hospitals had resumed operations.

“For community health centres, nearly all resumed functioning within four weeks. So, within approximately one month, basic healthcare services have essentially returned to normal,” he explained.

Beyond facility restoration, Satgas PRR also provided assistance to approximately 3,000 healthcare workers whose homes were damaged by flooding in the three affected provinces.

Currently, around 1,000 medical personnel and healthcare workers have received government approval for house repair fund disbursements.