first aidJakarta has a large number of health services from doctors, hospitals and pharmacies which can offer help and advice, but perhaps not to the quality you are used to or in the ways you are used to.

It is worth reading the US Centre for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) page on Indonesia and their Healthy Travel Packing List.before you arrive registering with health services, either individual doctors or hospitals after you arrive.

 

 

 

For an idea of what to expect and how to keep your family healthy, see our Medical Guide below.

Medical Insurance – Thoroughly study your medical insurance policy, benefits, and exclusions. Medical insurance can be required for hospitalisation and medical evacuation in Indonesia. It can cause stress and delay if you discover that your medical needs are not covered by your insurance.

Evacuation to Singapore for more thorough tests and invasive treatment is relatively common here. This can be organized by your doctor in Jakarta. However, in an emergency situation, it is rare that an air ambulance and medical crew are on standby at Jakarta Airport. Aircraft and medical crew will be sent from Singapore to escort the patient from Jakarta. This process can sometimes add 6-8 hours to an evacuation plan.

Medical supplies – over-the-counter medicines are readily available in most pharmacies across the city, although you may not find the brands you are used to.

For more specialied medical supplies, it is worth consulting your doctor before you leave and checking if it is available. If not, you will need to ask for a prescription and make sure you bring an adequate supply with you (it is advisable to bring a year’s supply). It is advisable to bring a doctor’s letter and copy of your prescription to prove that the medication has been legally prescribed. Also, if you are coming through Singapore’s Changi Airport, they require authority for you to bring in medication which is a quick procedure. For more information, see the US Centre for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) page on Indonesia and their Healthy Travel Packing List.

Clinics – See our Directory for a list of the ones most commonly used by expatriate families in Jakarta. However, medical facilities on offer here are somewhat limited compared to most western countries.

Tropical climate concerns – Useful information and advice how to prevent tropical illnesses including dehydration and diarrhoea.

Vaccinations – see the CDC guidelines on vaccinations for Indonesia or consult your embassy.

Ambulance Services – Ambulance services do not operate in Indonesia in the same way as they may do in your home country. There is no “999” or “911” ambulance response available. It is recommended that you take First Aid Training and have a First Aid Kit in your home and car. In an Emergency situation, it is best to take an injured or sick person to an Emergency Room in a hospital or clinic by car or taxi. Otherwise, you may have to wait for up to 1 hour for an ambulance to arrive. In Indonesia, most ambulances are patient transfer vehicles.. The amublance personnel may not have any paramedic training and there may be very little medical equipement in the ambulance. All the more reason for you to be proactive and learn how to provide basic life support and injury management.They may be useful skills to have during your stay.

Water – It is best to use bottled water for drinking and cooking at all times. It is safe to bathe your children, but make sure they don’t drink it!.

Allergies & special diets may be a concern when moving countries but Jakarta offers more assistance than you may think.

Blood supplies – These are usually very limited in Indonesia, especially Rhesus Negative Blood. The Rhesus Negative group is rare amongst Indonesians (less than 1% of the population) whilst 15% of Caucasians are Rhesus Negative. O Rhesus Negative is also known as the ‘universal donor’ – meaning that in an emergency situation anyone can receive this blood.

If you are Rhesus Negative and wish to become a standby donor please contact : SOS Cipete Tel: 021 750 5980 / 021 750 5973 / 021 750 6001 or Indonesian Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Jl. Kramat Raya No 47 Tel: 021 327 711 / 021 390 6666 / 021 390 9259

Staff health is an important issue for you to consider, assuming that you are employing staff in your house here. It is advisable to take them to an internationally recognized clinic for a medical prior to employment. You may want to offer to have them vaccinated against the more common diseases.

Our household safety page will give you some general guidelines relevant to living in Indonesia.

.