Prabowo Unveils Plans for Air Ambulance Service

President Prabowo Subianto has proposed the establishment of air ambulance services to facilitate the swift evacuation of critically ill or injured individuals. This announcement was made during his presentation of the 2027 State Budget and financial notes in Jakarta on August 14, 2026. Prabowo explained that these air ambulances would be operated using helicopters and small planes, ensuring that no one would be unable to receive medical assistance due to illness.

The proposal arose from persistent public complaints regarding the challenges in accessing healthcare, particularly concerning the limited access to healthcare in rural areas, as highlighted by Prabowo. He pointed out that many mothers had succumbed to the ordeal of traveling long distances to give birth due to poor road and bridge infrastructure and significant distances from city centers.

In response to these issues, Prabowo outlined that the air ambulance could land on grassy and sandy fields, as well as on riverbanks. This versatility would enable medical professionals to reach seriously ill individuals or disaster-stricken areas promptly. As the Chair of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo emphasized that doctors would be flown to such locations to provide necessary medical care.

Furthermore, Prabowo mentioned that the government had already constructed 66 regional hospitals in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost regions. Looking ahead, additional efforts would be made to build and revitalize 441 regional general hospitals. As part of this initiative, Prabowo has instructed all districts and cities to develop hospitals equipped with advanced technology aimed at saving lives.