Prabowo Plans Air Ambulances and 'Flying Doctor' Programme to Reach Remote Areas

President Prabowo Subianto has revealed his desire to provide air ambulances and flying doctors to reach citizens who do not have access to the nearest health facilities.

Prabowo admitted that this desire was based on the many reports he received that many citizens had to travel 7-9 hours to a hospital or clinic. With that travel time, not a few of them were unable to be saved.

“I received reports of many mothers who died because they had to travel 7-9 hours when it was time to give birth, it had to be 9 hours because there was no good road. Because the bridge was not good,” said Prabowo in his speech on the financial note for the 2027 State Budget Draft at the parliamentary complex, Friday (14/8).

“For that, we must find innovative breakthroughs, one way is air ambulances. In fact, later also a flying doctor team,” he added.

Later, he said, doctors will come directly to the homes of residents who are seriously ill and cannot reach health facilities.

Doctors will fly using aircraft ambulances that can land dynamically in many places, from sand fields, grass, to even rivers.

“With small aircraft that can land on grass fields, on sand fields, can land on riverbanks, so that none of our people cannot be evacuated if they are sick,” said Prabowo.

Prabowo added that starting in 2027, the Government will renovate 10,000 community health centres (Puskesmas) in 7,285 sub-districts across Indonesia. Each Puskesmas will receive a renovation budget of around Rp4 billion.

The Government, he continued, will also renovate or build 514 public health laboratories (Labkesmas) in 514 regencies and cities across Indonesia. The programme is planned to be completed by 2030 at the latest.

“The people must not travel long distances just to obtain basic health services. The state must be present as close as possible to where the people live,” said Prabowo.