President Prabowo Subianto announced that the government is considering inviting foreign doctors to practice in Indonesia for limited periods to address a severe domestic shortage of medical personnel. Speaking at the DPR RI Plenary Session on Friday, August 14, 2026, Prabowo stated that the nation urgently needs tens of thousands of general practitioners, dentists, and specialists to meet public healthcare demands.
Addressing Indonesia’s Medical Personnel Shortage
According to data presented during the session, Indonesia currently faces a deficit of 84.781 general practitioners and 127.580 dentists. Additionally, across 481 districts and cities, the healthcare system requires an additional 55.712 medical specialists.
Prabowo emphasized that relying solely on domestic graduation rates would take too long to bridge this gap. According to his remarks in the parliamentary session, waiting for the country to produce enough dentists alone would take until four presidencies after his term.
“Our people demand and hope for healthcare as quickly as possible,” Prabowo said, as reported in the official proceedings. “We must not think normatively; we must dare to think innovatively.”
Did You Know? President Prabowo Subianto noted during his address on August 14, 2026, that waiting to fulfill the country’s need for 187.000 dental graduates through domestic pipelines alone would require waiting through four subsequent presidential administrations.
Expanding Domestic Medical Education
Alongside the proposal to bring in foreign practitioners on a temporary basis, the administration is pursuing domestic educational reforms. As reported by VIVA.co.id, the government has opened nine new medical faculties across the country.
Furthermore, authorities plan to establish 170 new specialist and subspecialist study programs based in both universities and hospitals. Prabowo indicated that these domestic capacity-building efforts will continue to expand to ensure long-term sustainability in the healthcare sector.
RMOL.id noted that these announcements were delivered as part of the presentation of the State Budget Bill (RUU APBN) for Fiscal Year 2027 alongside the Financial Note in Jakarta. The urgency of healthcare expansion forms a central pillar of the administration’s broader financial and social policy planning for the coming year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the proposal to invite foreign doctors?
The proposal stems from a significant shortage of medical professionals across Indonesia, which currently needs 84.781 general practitioners, 127.580 dentists, and 55.712 specialists across 481 districts and cities.
How long would foreign doctors be allowed to practice?
According to the statements delivered at the DPR RI Plenary Session, foreign medical professionals would practice in Indonesia for limited, temporary periods.
What domestic steps are being taken to train more doctors?
The government has opened nine new medical faculties and plans to launch 170 new specialist and subspecialist study programs across universities and hospitals, as detailed in the session coverage.
How will the administration balance the expedited entry of foreign practitioners with the training of domestic medical students?
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