When you're making a big move as an expat to Indonesia, you need to think about your health. Yes, even if you're young! The health system in Indonesia is likely quite a bit different from the one you're used to back home, so it's important to read up and be aware. Below, we're giving you the top tips and 101's on useful contacts and health resources in Indonesia.聽聽
Before moving to Indonesia, find out where your country's embassy or consulate is based. Most countries have some sort of representative body in Indonesia, which can be useful in case of an emergency. Most likely, they'll be in Jakarta. Some may also operate in Bali.
In Indonesia, you should know where your nearest health facilities are and, wherever possible, make contact in advance with a doctor at an international clinic. This can be quite useful for getting faster care if something does happen.
If you have kids, depending on their age and interests, it can be quite useful to find suitable international schools or associations ahead of time. Contacting the schools directly to get some extra info and suss them out can help ease your kid's integration into their new environment.
Medical emergencies in Indonesia
Indonesia continues to develop its emergency medical services system. As you can imagine, with an archipelago that's made up of more than 17,000 islands, this is no easy business鈥mergency response times and availability of services vary significantly depending on your location.
Since 2016, 112 has been designated as Indonesia's national emergency number. You can dial this reach ambulance services, the police, and the fire department. While the number is used nationwide, the availability and response times will be different depending on where you are. In practice, especially if you're outside major urban centers, some residents will choose to make their own way to the nearest medical facility, rather than wait for an ambulance, which could easily take hours.
Health institutions in Indonesia
Private and international medical facilities are the most reliable option in case of emergency or serious medical issues. Once you've decided where you're going to live in Indonesia, you should make a note of your nearest suitable health facility and sign up there as a patient (if it's possible). Having a medical record already in place can help speed up any treatment and care in really urgent situations.
is well-known by expats and operates several clinics offering English-speaking staff and 24/7 assistance. Facilities and services inevitably change over time, so it's worth verifying details directly with the provider before you rely on them in an emergency.
SOS Medika Klinik - Kuningan
Menara Prima, 2nd Floor
Jl. DR Ide Anak Agung Gde Agung Block 6.2
Mega Kuningan Area
DKI Jakarta (Kuningan)
Tel: 62 21 5794 8600
SOS Medika Klinik - Cipete
JL Puri Sakti No. 10 Cipete
South Jakarta
Jakarta (Cipete)
Tel: 62 21 750 5980
SOS Medika Klinik - Bali
Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai, No.194
Sanur Kaja
Bali
Tel: 62 361 2014 505
Other emergency numbers in Indonesia
Search and Rescue (SAR): 115
Fire Department: 112
Natural disaster response services may operate through dedicated hotlines depending on the situation and region.
During large-scale emergencies or natural disasters (which aren't infrequent in a place like Indonesia), local authorities may issue temporary or region-specific contact numbers. You should pay attention and monitor official announcements during these moments.
In case of problems reaching the above numbers in Jakarta, try calling a specific service directly for help:
- North Jakarta: 021-43931063
- South Jakarta: 021-7694519 or 7690825
- Central Jakarta: 021 6344215 or 6328576
- East Jakarta: 021 85904904 or 8591113
- West Jakarta: 021 5483113
Security services
- Police (general emergencies): 110 or 112
- Police (Jakarta) - 62 21 523 43 33
- Tourist Police (Jakarta) - 021 526 4073
- Police (Bali) - 911 754 599 224 111
- Tourist Police (Bali) - (0361) 754 599 / (0361) 224 111
Tourist police services are available in major tourist areas, particularly in Jakarta and Bali. Availability and contact details will vary, so just visiting a local police station in person is always going to be the most reliable option.
Telecommunications in Indonesia
The international calling code for Indonesia is +62. When calling Indonesia from abroad, dial your international access code, followed by 62 and the local number (without the leading 0).
For local calls within Indonesia, dial the relevant area code (for example, 021 for Jakarta and surrounding areas), followed by the subscriber number.
International calls made from Indonesia depend on your mobile or landline provider. You should get in touch with your provider directly to find out about any applicable international dialing prefixes and rates.
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
