Prabowo Promises Air Ambulances and Flying Doctors for Remote Regions

President Prabowo Subianto has acknowledged that healthcare services remain limited, particularly in remote areas of Indonesia. To ensure all citizens have access to health facilities, he has promised new innovations, including air ambulances and flying doctor teams.

“For that, we must seek innovative breakthroughs. One way is air ambulances, and later also flying doctor teams,” Prabowo said during his speech on the delivery of the 2027 State Budget Bill and Financial Note on Friday (14/8/2026).

The air ambulance facilities, he continued, are designed to be able to land on difficult terrain, including grass, sand, and even riverbanks.

Prabowo said he often receives reports of pregnant women and babies losing their lives on the way to hospital because health facilities are too far away. He stressed that this must no longer happen.

“No longer should a mother lose her life because the hospital is far away. No longer should a father sell all his possessions because he must seek treatment in a big city,” he added.

He also promised to revitalise 441 regional public hospitals (RSUD) across 514 regencies and cities, 66 of which will be built in Indonesia’s frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged (3T) regions.

“These regional hospitals will be strengthened, especially to handle the diseases causing the highest mortality: cancer, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, as well as maternal and child health services.”