President Prabowo Unveils Major Health and Education Overhaul Plans

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has outlined sweeping reforms in health and education as the next stage of Indonesia’s transformation, pledging to renovate 10,000 community health centers (Puskesmas), strengthen more than 440 regional hospitals, and complete repairs for all schools in need.

Speaking at the State Address on the 2027 Draft State Budget (APBN) and Financial Notes during the opening plenary of the House of Representatives' 2026–2027 session on Friday, August 14, President Prabowo said the initiatives are designed to resolve problems that have lingered for decades.

In health care, he emphasized that Puskesmas must serve as the frontline of public health. Starting in 2027, each center will receive around IDR 4 billion for renovations, with priority given to remote and underserved areas. The government will also upgrade 514 public health laboratories across regencies and cities.

“Citizens should not have to travel far for basic health services. The state must be present as close as possible to where people live,” he said, as quoted on the Ministry of State Secretariat's official website.

To reach isolated communities, the President proposed air ambulances using helicopters and small planes, and even mobile medical teams. He stressed that regional hospitals must be modernized to handle leading causes of death such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure, alongside maternal and child health services.

As an initial step, 66 hospitals have been built in frontier regions, with 20 already operational.

He also highlighted the urgent need for medical personnel, noting Indonesia still requires more than 84,000 general practitioners, 127,000 dentists, and 55,000 specialists. The government has opened nine new medical faculties and 170 specialist programs, with plans for further expansion. “We cannot think normatively; we must dare to innovate,” President Prabowo asserted.

On education, he announced the largest school renovation program in Indonesia’s history, targeting completion by 2029. Accelerated efforts in 2027–2028 aim to eliminate unsafe classrooms with leaking roofs, cracked walls, or broken facilities. “No more stories of collapsed schools. No more classrooms left damaged for years,” he declared.

The government will also expand the use of interactive flat panels (IFPs) and distance learning, with a goal of four IFP‑equipped classrooms in every school by the end of 2026.

The President reaffirmed his commitment to free education in public schools, calling it a fundamental right for every child. “Education is the foundation of our nation’s progress. We must ensure every child can attend school without fees,” he concluded. ***