Indonesia – Doctors

How does the healthcare system in Indonesia work, and does it cover expats?

Indonesia’s national health coverage programme goes by the name Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN). It encompasses both the public health sector and selected parts of the private sector. Rather than being fully funded through general taxation — as is the case in a number of European countries — JKN functions as a social insurance mechanism, requiring members to pay monthly premiums in return for access to covered medical services. This model is broadly comparable in principle to contributory systems operating in countries such as France and South Korea.

Public healthcare in Indonesia is structured in layers. At the base are community-level facilities called puskesmas and posyandu, which deliver basic care and are staffed by doctors, dentists, nurses, and supporting health workers. Above this tier sit district hospitals and larger referral centres that handle more complex medical needs.

The JKN programme has grown substantially in scope, reaching over 260 million people — more than 95% of the Indonesian population — by December 2023. Despite this impressive scale, patients using public facilities frequently encounter lengthy waiting periods and uneven standards of care across different regions.

The scheme extends nationwide and applies to foreign nationals residing in Indonesia for more than six months under a working visa. To be eligible for BPJS registration, a foreigner must hold either a KITAS (Limited Stay Permit) or a KITAP (Permanent Stay Permit) that permits employment. Tourist visas, visit visas, and business visas do not qualify a holder for BPJS enrolment.

It is important to note that foreign retirees are NOT eligible to enrol in BPJS Kesehatan — the National Health Insurance in Indonesia. If you hold a retirement visa or a non-working stay permit, you will need to arrange private health insurance instead. Always confirm your current eligibility directly with BPJS Kesehatan or the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), as the rules governing eligibility can change over time.

One notable feature of BPJS is that it does not permit exclusions on the basis of pre-existing conditions. However, members must attend a participating clinic or hospital in order to receive treatment. The network of eligible facilities has widened considerably — private hospitals now account for 65% of all hospitals contracted under the BPJS scheme, giving members a broader range of options.

How do you find and register with a doctor in Indonesia?

How you go about finding a primary care provider in Indonesia depends largely on whether you are using the public JKN system or opting for private care. Both routes are open to expats, and a great many people make use of both at different times.

Using the public BPJS system

Once you have completed your BPJS registration, you will be issued a membership number and card, and will need to nominate a primary healthcare facility — referred to as an FKTP (Fasilitas Kesehatan Tingkat Pertama). This is typically a puskesmas or a BPJS-affiliated clinic located near your home address. A defining feature of the BPJS structure is its stepped referral process: in most cases you must be seen at a primary facility before you can be directed to a specialist or admitted to a hospital.

Registering with BPJS as an employed expat

Eligible expats can complete their BPJS Kesehatan enrolment through their employer or by visiting a local BPJS office. If you are employed by an Indonesian company, your employer will typically handle the registration process as part of your workplace onboarding — indeed, a current BPJS enrolment is a prerequisite for renewing a work KITAS in Indonesia.

If you are self-employed or working as an investor, you can visit your nearest BPJS centre and bring your KITAS/KITAP and passport to register independently. The process involves assembling a complete set of documents — including your passport, stay permit, and evidence of contribution payments. You may also register via the BPJS Kesehatan website (www.bpjs-kesehatan.go.id), which allows you to complete the process without having to wait in line at a physical office.

Using private care

Many expats — particularly those based in Jakarta — make use of group practice medical clinics. In a number of ways, these establishments resemble compact hospitals: in addition to general practitioners, they employ a broad range of specialists and are equipped to manage most common medical concerns. There are no geographic catchment restrictions for private clinics; you are free to register and seek care at any private facility of your choice. Bring your passport and residency permit to your initial appointment.

For the most current guidance on registration procedures, visit the BPJS Kesehatan official website or contact your regional BPJS office. A BPJS hotline is also available on 0812-8415124 to help you locate a suitable registration point near you.

1. Confirm that you hold a valid KITAS or KITAP authorising employment or investment activity in Indonesia.
2. If employed by an Indonesian entity, contact your HR department to initiate BPJS registration — your employer is legally obligated to do this on your behalf.
3. If self-enrolling, prepare your passport, KITAS/KITAP, and proof of address, then either visit your nearest BPJS Kesehatan office or register online at bpjs-kesehatan.go.id.
4. Select your coverage class (Class 1, 2, or 3) and nominate your primary health facility (FKTP).
5. Make your first monthly contribution payment — via bank transfer, mobile banking, or at an authorised payment outlet.
6. Collect your BPJS membership card and keep it on you whenever you attend a BPJS-affiliated facility.
7. For private care, contact your preferred clinic or hospital directly to schedule an appointment, and bring your passport and insurance documentation to the first visit.

How do you pay for a doctor’s appointment in Indonesia?

Through the BPJS public system

Under the employment-based arrangement, employers contribute approximately 4% of your salary to BPJS while 1% is deducted from your own pay, keeping your coverage funded on an ongoing basis. As of 2025, those who self-enrol pay monthly premiums determined by their chosen hospitalisation class: Class 1 costs Rp 150,000 per member per month, Class 2 costs Rp 100,000, and Class 3 costs Rp 42,000, with a portion of the Class 3 amount subsidised by the government. Always check the BPJS Kesehatan website for the most recent figures, as contribution rates are periodically revised.

A ceiling applies to the wage base used for calculating healthcare contributions — once an employee’s salary exceeds this ceiling, fixed maximum amounts apply for both employer and employee. The exact cap is updated by the government from time to time, so verify the current figure directly with BPJS Kesehatan.

Keep close track of your monthly payments and ensure there are no lapses — if contributions fall into arrears, your cover may be suspended.

At private clinics and hospitals

Most private hospitals require either upfront payment or a guarantee letter from your insurer before proceeding with treatment. Major international insurers have direct billing arrangements with premium private facilities, which removes the need to pay out of pocket and claim later. Without private insurance, you are responsible for the full cost yourself, and fees at internationally accredited private hospitals in cities such as Jakarta and Bali can be substantial — often on a par with private healthcare rates in many European countries. Before attending any appointment, confirm the consultation fee in advance and establish whether your international insurer has a direct billing agreement with that facility.

Do you need private health insurance to see a doctor in Indonesia?

In brief: yes — for the vast majority of expats, private health insurance is either strongly advisable or a legal necessity alongside BPJS. Here is the reasoning.

You are required to apply for and fund BPJS even if you also hold private health insurance — the two are not mutually exclusive. In practice, many expats carry both. Private insurance can complement JKN through a coordination of benefit (COB) arrangement, enabling patients to draw on their private cover for any costs that fall outside what JKN reimburses.

International health insurance remains the preferred option for many expats, primarily because it offers broader coverage — including emergency medical evacuation — direct access to premium private hospitals meeting international standards, and no requirement to navigate a tiered referral system before reaching a specialist.

For those relocating to Indonesia for work or retirement purposes, comprehensive health insurance is typically a condition of obtaining a visa. The precise requirements differ according to your visa category: KITAS work permit holders are covered through BPJS, whereas individuals on retirement visas or social/cultural visas must show evidence of private coverage. Verify the exact insurance requirement applicable to your specific visa type with the Directorate General of Immigration (Ditjen Imigrasi), as these requirements are subject to periodic revision.

For serious medical emergencies and complex surgical procedures, evacuation to a nearby country with more advanced facilities and specialist expertise may become necessary. It is therefore vital that any expat health insurance policy explicitly covers medical evacuation — this should be treated as a non-negotiable feature when comparing plans.

Ensure that your international policy covers treatment within Indonesia and, where possible, includes medical repatriation. When assessing different policies, verify whether your insurer has direct billing arrangements with the main hospitals in your city of residence.

How do you transfer your medical records to a doctor in Indonesia?

No formal bilateral agreement exists between Indonesia and other nations for the transfer of medical records, so the process is essentially a practical one that falls to the patient to manage. Taking a proactive approach before leaving your home country will spare you considerable difficulty after you arrive.

If you are coming to Indonesia for the first time, carry your overseas medical records with you so that your new doctors can acquaint themselves with your health background and any pre-departure check-up results. Ask your current doctor for a written summary or referral letter before you leave — ideally in English, as this is the language most widely understood by internationally trained doctors working in Indonesia’s private healthcare sector.

If your records exist only in another language, consider having the most important documents translated into English or Bahasa Indonesia. While private clinics in major cities often employ staff with solid English proficiency, having translations into Bahasa Indonesia will be helpful for any consultations conducted within the public health system.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Health has introduced a platform called ‘Satu Sehat’ (One Health) — a national digital health repository that integrates data from BPJS and more than 36,000 public and private health facilities throughout the country. This system is designed to streamline the sharing of health data between facilities within Indonesia, though it does not yet bridge the gap between international and domestic records. Ask your private clinic or BPJS-affiliated facility whether they are connected to the Satu Sehat platform.

Given the limited degree of electronic health record integration between facilities, keeping digital copies of your medical documents is strongly advisable. Maintain scanned versions of test results, operative notes, vaccination records, and medication histories in a secure cloud storage service that you can access from any location. For authoritative information on health data standards in Indonesia, consult the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes).

What should expats know about language barriers and finding a doctor who consults in English?

The degree of language accessibility you encounter will vary considerably depending on your location within Indonesia and whether you are accessing public or private healthcare.

Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bali are home to internationally accredited hospitals with English-speaking medical professionals, up-to-date equipment, and markedly shorter waiting times. Venture beyond these urban centres, however, and high-quality private facilities become progressively harder to find.

The overwhelming majority of doctors and nurses working within the public system do not speak English. In rural communities, a local puskesmas may be the only healthcare option available. This represents one of the most significant practical hurdles for newcomers trying to use the public network, and it is a key reason why so many expats opt for private care even after completing their BPJS enrolment.

Early in your time in Indonesia, make it a priority to identify the nearest medical facility with English-speaking staff — or staff fluent in whatever language you prefer. Your home country’s embassy in Jakarta is a useful resource: most embassies maintain current lists of recommended doctors and clinics able to consult in languages other than Bahasa Indonesia. Expat community forums and city-specific Facebook groups for Jakarta, Bali, and Surabaya are also widely consulted for personal doctor recommendations.

Hospitals such as Siloam Hospitals, Pondok Indah Hospital in Jakarta, and BIMC in Bali hold JCI (Joint Commission International) accreditation, are equipped with modern technology, and employ specialist physicians who have frequently trained overseas and can offer comprehensive services. These institutions are a reliable starting point for expats in search of doctors with international training.

In the event of an emergency, make sure you have a fluent Bahasa Indonesia speaker on hand to help you and ensure you have adequate funds available for medical costs. If you are in a rural area, this preparation is particularly critical given the extremely limited number of English-speaking staff outside major cities.

Telemedicine is an increasingly viable option for expats across Indonesia. Several Bali-based online doctor services conduct consultations entirely in English, making healthcare more accessible to expats and digital nomads alike. These platforms can also issue prescriptions and coordinate medicine delivery — a convenient alternative when visiting a clinic in person is not practical.

What do expats need to know about prescriptions and medication in Indonesia?

Indonesia has its own pharmaceutical classification framework and a number of practical peculiarities that are worth familiarising yourself with before you find yourself urgently in need of medication.

Drugs in Indonesia are divided into categories based on the level of access permitted: green label medications can be purchased freely without a prescription; blue label medications are dispensed only on the basis of a doctor’s prescription; and red label medications are tightly controlled and require a prescription from an authorised physician. Red label drugs typically encompass powerful substances such as prescription painkillers, antibiotics, and medications used to treat anxiety or sleep disorders.

Dispensing practices at Indonesian pharmacies may differ considerably from what you have experienced elsewhere. Some drugs that are strictly prescription-only in your home country may be available over the counter in Indonesia, while the reverse can also apply. Expats should make a habit of noting the generic (non-proprietary) name of any medication they take, since brand names differ from one country to another.

In many instances, the same compound will be manufactured and marketed under an entirely different brand name in Indonesia. It is worth bringing the package insert from your existing prescription so that your new doctor can precisely identify the active ingredient and formulation.

In Indonesia, pharmacies are referred to as ‘apotik’ and are straightforward to locate in larger urban areas — you will find them in shopping centres, hospitals, and medical clinics, with some operating around the clock. In more remote rural areas, pharmacies are less prevalent, although they can occasionally be found within local health centres. International chain pharmacies are well represented in the major cities and tend to maintain good stock levels.

If anyone in your family takes prescribed medication on a regular basis, speak with your doctor about obtaining a supply large enough to last until your next visit home, in case the same drug is unavailable through Indonesian pharmacies. When travelling outside Indonesia’s main population centres, access to any kind of medication can be extremely difficult due to limited local resources. If you are heading to remote areas, it is strongly advisable to pack a supply of essential medicines before you depart.

For BPJS members, medications prescribed through BPJS-affiliated facilities and puskesmas are generally covered and subsidised as part of the scheme. Medication costs incurred at private clinics are settled directly by the patient, and whether or not you can claim reimbursement will depend on the terms of your private insurance policy. Check with your insurer to understand which pharmacies fall within your coverage and whether original prescription receipts are required for any reimbursement claims. For official guidance on regulated pharmaceutical products, refer to Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM).

Frequently asked questions

What should I do in a medical emergency in Indonesia?

Indonesia does not operate a national emergency medical service. Public hospitals have ambulances, though their staffing levels and equipment quality are generally limited. Expats are advised to research and identify private ambulance services operating in their local area. The national general emergency number is 112. If you are in close proximity to a major private hospital, attending its emergency department directly or calling the hospital’s dedicated emergency line is often the quickest course of action.

Are pre-existing conditions covered under BPJS?

BPJS rules do not permit exclusions based on pre-existing medical conditions. Once you have been enrolled, you should be entitled to receive treatment for conditions that existed prior to your joining the scheme, provided you follow the appropriate referral pathway. For private insurance, the situation varies by policy — read the pre-existing condition clauses closely before committing to any plan.

How long does BPJS registration take?

For newly arrived expatriates, BPJS registration is generally completed shortly after KITAS issuance and payroll setup. Registering in person at a BPJS office can take most of the day if you need to queue for a ticket number. Registering online through the BPJS Kesehatan website is an alternative that avoids the need to wait in person.

What happens to my healthcare coverage if I change employer in Indonesia?

When you move to a new employer, your BPJS membership is typically transferred across so that your new employer assumes responsibility for contribution payments. There may be a brief transitional gap — prompt registration by your new employer is essential to prevent any break in coverage. If payments are not maintained, your cover may be suspended. Keeping private insurance active as a contingency during any employment transition is a sensible precaution.

Can my family members be covered under my BPJS membership?

BPJS members are able to register their immediate family, including a spouse and up to three children. Each family member receives their own individual BPJS card. The same monthly contribution rate applies per person, based on whichever coverage class has been selected for the family unit.

Is medical evacuation to Singapore or another country covered by BPJS?

No — BPJS Kesehatan does not extend to overseas medical evacuation or treatment in foreign countries. For serious conditions requiring advanced care, many expatriates choose to travel abroad for treatment, and Singapore is a common destination given its relative proximity and accessibility. Cover for medical evacuation must be secured through a separate private or international health insurance policy. This is among the most compelling reasons to hold private insurance alongside your BPJS membership.

Can I see a specialist directly, or do I need a GP referral first?

Under the BPJS tiered system, you are generally required to attend a primary healthcare facility and obtain a referral before you can see a specialist or be admitted to a hospital. This process can be time-consuming and inflexible — particularly in urgent situations. Holders of private health insurance can typically bypass this requirement entirely and book a specialist appointment directly at a private hospital.

What vaccinations should I get before moving to Indonesia?

Recommended vaccinations commonly include hepatitis A and B, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, and standard routine immunisations such as measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DtaP). No vaccinations are formally required for entry into Indonesia, but expats are advised to ensure all routine immunisations are current before departure. Seek personalised recommendations from a travel medicine specialist or your own doctor prior to moving.