Health · Public Health & Disease · 3 hrs ago
Indonesia Health Minister Checks Smoke Crisis in Palangka Raya
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin visited Palangka Raya in Central Kalimantan on Friday to check health services during smoke from forest and land fires.
Hospital admissions in the province have risen as much as threefold amid worsening air quality, with breathing problems a key concern.
The Health Ministry is preparing to speed up deliveries of equipment, including ventilators, and has provided masks, oxygen equipment, air purifiers and vitamins.
Children and people with serious breathing problems are a priority for care, and clinics are being checked because they are often the first place residents seek help.
People with mild symptoms may receive outpatient care, but pneumonia or severe lung disease needs hospital treatment.
Palangka Raya's mobile oxygen bus was also reviewed, and the city mayor said it could become a national pilot project.
Air pollution readings in some areas have exceeded 300, while the ministry works to strengthen local health services.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin visited Palangka Raya to assess health effects of smoke from forest and land fires and check health services.
Hospital admissions in Central Kalimantan had increased as much as threefold amid worsening air quality, he said.
The ministry said it was speeding up delivery of medical equipment, including ventilators, to hospitals in the province.
Budi visited health facilities and an oxygen house in Palangka Raya on Friday, October 23.
He said air pollution readings in some parts of Central Kalimantan had reached 300, a level described as very poor.
- Who
- Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin visited Palangka Raya. He was accompanied by Central Kalimantan Governor Agustiar Sabran and other officials.
- What
- He assessed the health impact of smoke from forest and land fires and checked health facilities’ readiness to treat affected residents.
- When
- Friday, October 23, 2026.
- Where
- Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia.
- Why
- To monitor the effects of air pollution on public health and ensure health facilities could care for affected residents.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Air quality in Central Kalimantan worsened amid smoke from forest and land fires.
Budi visited health facilities and an oxygen house in Palangka Raya to assess services for residents affected by the smoke.
CNN Indonesia published its report on the visit and the ministry’s response.
- Hospital admissions
- Increased as much as threefold in Central Kalimantan, according to Budi.
- Air pollution reading
- Reached 300 in some locations, according to Budi.
- Medical equipment
- Planned assistance included ventilators, oxygen concentrators, nebulizers and oxygen cylinders.
- Facilities visited
- Puskesmas Menteng, Puskesmas Panarung, Rumah Oksigen and RSUD Doris Sylvanus.
- Visit date
- October 23, 2026.
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What people are saying
From the information I received, the number of patients admitted to hospitals increased by as much as threefold.
This assistance is expected to strengthen hospitals’ ability to treat patients with severe respiratory problems.
Including the oxygen bus mobilization earlier, he seems to want to make it a pilot project in Palangka Raya.