System overview
Indonesia operates a national insurance scheme, BPJS Kesehatan. It covers the local population through a network of community health centres (puskesmas) and public hospitals, topped by national referral centres such as RSCM in Jakarta [1,2]. The public system is functional but uneven in quality, particularly outside Java, and English-speaking staff are scarce. Western relocators almost universally use private hospitals in the largest cities. The number of JCI-accredited hospitals in Indonesia is small relative to the country's size, concentrated in Jakarta, Surabaya and parts of Bali [3,4]. For Bali specifically, see the Bali health document.
Hospitals to know
Jakarta
- Siloam Hospitals Kebon Jeruk and Siloam Hospitals MRCCC Semanggi. Siloam is Indonesia's largest private network and the first Indonesian group to receive JCI accreditation; MRCCC Semanggi is the network's flagship cancer and cardiovascular centre [4].
- Mayapada Hospital Jakarta Selatan. Private tertiary hospital with strong cardiac, neuro and oncology centres, used by many expats [5].
- RS Pondok Indah, Pondok Indah and Puri Indah. Long-established private group, broad specialities, English-speaking outpatient service [6].
Surabaya
- Siloam Hospitals Surabaya. JCI accredited within the Siloam network, the main private referral option in East Java [4].
- National Hospital Surabaya. Modern private hospital with cardiac and oncology centres frequently used by expats in East Java.
Routine care and chronic disease management
GP and specialist access at the hospitals above is generally same-day or same-week, with online booking available. For typical 60+ chronic conditions:
- Hospitals widely stock standard antihypertensives (amlodipine, telmisartan, losartan, perindopril, bisoprolol), statins (atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin), metformin, gliclazide, sitagliptin and basal insulins [4].
- You can find newer agents (SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, DOACs such as apixaban or rivaroxaban) in Jakarta and Surabaya but expect retail pricing.
- Bring a written summary from your current clinician and 60 to 90 days of medication when first arriving; expect to switch some brands to local equivalents over time.
Pharmacy and personal medication
Apotek (pharmacies) are common in cities. Pharmacies dispense many medicines over the counter, but Indonesia formally classifies prescription, restricted and controlled medicines, and pharmacies at large hospitals follow these rules strictly. Controlled drugs (benzodiazepines, opioids, stimulants) are tightly restricted and importing them without prior Ministry of Health authorisation can lead to severe penalties [1,7]. Always carry original prescriptions and a signed doctor's letter, and keep medicines in original packaging.
Vaccinations
CDC recommends long-term residents stay current on routine vaccines (MMR, dTaP, varicella, pneumococcal, shingles, seasonal influenza) and additionally hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid. Get Japanese encephalitis vaccination for long stays in rural areas. Get rabies pre-exposure vaccination given the very high incidence of stray-dog rabies in many provinces (notably Bali, Sulawesi, North Sumatra and West Kalimantan) [8,9]. Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory only if arriving from a transmission country.
Endemic infectious risks
- Dengue is endemic across Indonesia, year round, with major peaks during and just after the rainy season (typically October to May). All major cities including Jakarta and Surabaya regularly see outbreaks [8].
- Malaria risk varies sharply by region: low to absent in Java, Bali and the main tourist islands; significant in Papua, parts of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Nusa Tenggara. Speak to a travel-medicine clinician before extended travel east of Bali [8].
- Rabies is endemic in most provinces; assume any street dog is unvaccinated and seek post-exposure prophylaxis (washing, vaccine, immunoglobulin) immediately after a bite at Siloam, Mayapada or Pondok Indah [9].
- Avian influenza, leptospirosis and tuberculosis are present at higher background rates than in Europe.
Water and food
Tap water in Indonesia is not safe to drink. Most households and reputable restaurants use bottled, filtered or galon (large refill) water; "isi ulang" refill stations vary in quality. Ice in chain restaurants and hotels is industrially made and safe; street-stall ice is not reliable [7].
Air quality
Jakarta has chronic and severe air pollution; PM2.5 monthly averages routinely run 40 to 80 micrograms per cubic metre during the dry season (June to September), well above WHO guideline values [10]. Wildfires and peatland burning in Sumatra and Kalimantan periodically produce regional haze that affects Jakarta, Singapore and the surrounding islands. For anyone with cardiac, COPD or asthma history, indoor HEPA filtration and respirators on high-AQI days are essential.
Insurance
- BPJS Kesehatan is open to foreign nationals holding a valid KITAS or KITAP after six months of residence; contributions are roughly 5% of salary (split with employer in formal employment) [2]. Coverage is tied to designated public facilities and is rarely sufficient on its own for a 60+ relocator.
- Domestic private insurers (Allianz Indonesia, AXA Mandiri, Manulife, Prudential Indonesia) offer top-up plans with direct billing at Siloam, Mayapada and RS Pondok Indah.
- International insurers commonly used in Indonesia include Cigna Global, Allianz Care, AXA Global Healthcare, William Russell, Aetna International and IMG. For older applicants with pre-existing conditions, full underwriting and clarity on medevac to Singapore or Bangkok are essential.
Emergencies
Indonesia's nationwide emergency number is 112; dedicated services include 118 or 119 for ambulance, 110 for police and 113 for fire. Public ambulance response in Jakarta is slow and traffic-bound, so expats commonly call the private hospital direct or use a hospital-dispatched ambulance [1]. For major trauma or complex cardiac and neuro cases, medevac to Singapore (around 90 minutes by air from Jakarta) is the regional standard; get insurance with evacuation cover.
This page is not medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician.