Asthma in Indonesia: Air Quality, Haze Season and Inhaler Access
Indonesia's wildfire haze, urban PM2.5 pollution, and tropical humidity create specific risks. Here's what to prepare before you fly.
What changes when you travel to Indonesia with asthma
Indonesia presents three specific challenges: PM2.5 pollution that regularly reaches 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' levels in Jakarta and Java, a dry-season haze from peatland and forest fires across Sumatra and Kalimantan between June and October, and high tropical humidity year-round. In IQAir's 2024 World Air Quality Report, Indonesia ranked as the worst country in Southeast Asia for air quality.[3]
This guide covers BPOM medication import rules, local inhaler brand names, finding a pulmonologist (dokter spesialis paru), emergency phrases in Bahasa Indonesia, and how to respond if air quality deteriorates during your stay. Keep your International Patient Summary accessible throughout your trip.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your specialist before travelling, particularly regarding changes to your treatment schedule, vaccination requirements, and travel insurance.
Key risks
Key risks for asthma travellers in Indonesia
Dry-season wildfire haze
Between June and October, forest and peatland fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan generate haze that spreads across major cities and can push PM2.5 to hazardous levels. Check Indonesia's ISPU air quality index daily and carry sufficient reliever medication if travelling during this period.[4]
Chronic urban pollution on Java
Jakarta's capital district records AQI readings of 'moderate' to 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' on most days, driven by traffic, coal power plants, and industrial emissions. Travelling through Jakarta, Bandung, or Semarang requires an N95 mask and a rescue inhaler within immediate reach.[3]
Island geography limiting pharmacy access
Pharmacies (apotek) are plentiful in Jakarta, Bali, and major tourist hubs but become scarce on rural islands and in remote areas. Carry more than your calculated supply if travelling outside Java or Bali.
Foreign prescriptions not accepted at Indonesian pharmacies
Indonesian pharmacies do not dispense on foreign prescriptions. If you need an emergency replacement supply, you must obtain a local prescription from a registered Indonesian doctor, either at a private clinic or a hospital outpatient department (poli rawat jalan).
High humidity compounding trigger exposure
Indonesia's tropical humidity (typically 70–90% year-round) can intensify respiratory irritation, particularly when combined with pollution peaks or indoor mould. Air-conditioned accommodation reduces ambient trigger exposure; budget options with poor ventilation compound it.
Preparation checklist
- See a pulmonologist (dokter spesialis paru) before departure — Confirm your asthma is well-controlled and get written confirmation of your diagnosis, medications, and action plan in English.
- Check the haze forecast for your travel dates — The dry season runs June to October; monitor the ISPU index for your specific destination islands before and during your trip.
- Pack at least 90 days of medication or your full trip supply — BPOM permits up to a 90-day supply of regular prescription medications with a supporting doctor's prescription.
- Carry all inhalers and spacers in hand luggage — Checked baggage is not temperature-controlled and inhalers can be lost; keep everything on your person during transit.
- Get a signed doctor's letter on clinic letterhead — The letter should state your diagnosis, current medications by INN and brand name, and daily dose.
- Create and download your IPS on Nomedic — Your offline International Patient Summary covers diagnosis, medications, and allergies and is readable by any clinician worldwide.
- Research the nearest private clinic or pulmonologist to your accommodation — Identify a Siloam Hospital, RS Premier, or BIMC location before arrival and save the address offline.
- Pack a high-filtration mask (N95 or FFP2) — Essential for haze days, Jakarta traffic, and indoor environments with poor ventilation.
- Confirm your travel insurance covers asthma exacerbations and evacuation — Ensure asthma is named on the policy schedule, not simply covered under a generic pre-existing condition clause.
- Save emergency numbers in Nomedic before departure — Ambulance: 118, Police: 110, Fire: 113, GSM emergency: 112.
Documents to carry
Documents to carry when travelling to Indonesia with asthma
Carry all documents digitally and as printed backups. The Nomedic app stores and shares your records, including your medical record, via QR code without needing an internet connection.
Your International Patient Summary (IPS)
The IPS is a standardised clinical document containing your diagnosis, current medications (by INN and brand name), allergies, and relevant history. In Indonesia, where clinicians at private hospitals and emergency departments may not read your home-country prescription format, the IPS provides an immediately usable clinical picture.
Create yours in Nomedic before departure. It generates a QR code that any smartphone camera can scan, and it works offline, critical in areas of Bali or Lombok with limited connectivity.
Full document checklist
Keep the following accessible on your phone and ready to share. Your Nomedic IPS covers items 1 and 6 automatically.
- ·Your Nomedic IPS Covers your asthma diagnosis, medications, allergies, and functional status. Offline and QR-accessible.
- ·Pulmonologist's letter Must state your diagnosis, current medications by INN and brand name, doses, and that the medications are for personal medical use[1].
- ·Prescriptions with INN names Indonesian pharmacists and doctors recognise international nonproprietary names; include both INN and brand name on every prescription[1] you carry.
- ·Travel insurance schedule Policy number and insurer's 24-hour line saved in your Nomedic profile.
- ·Passport copy Indonesian hospitals and private clinics require a passport for registration; carry a digital and printed copy.
- ·Indonesia emergency numbers Ambulance: 118, Police: 110, Fire: 113, GSM: 112[2]. Saved offline in Nomedic.
Medications advice
Bringing your asthma medications to Indonesia
BPOM (Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan), Indonesia's national drug regulatory authority[7], permits travellers to carry up to a 90-day supply of regular prescription medications (including inhalers and corticosteroids) provided you carry a supporting doctor's prescription. All medications must be in original packaging with the original dispensing label intact. Indonesian Customs (Bea Cukai) has final discretion at the point of entry, so documentation must be complete and consistent with the quantity you carry.[1]
Do not post your medication to Indonesia.
Posting prescription medicines to Indonesia is prohibited under BPOM regulations. Always carry inhalers and all asthma medications in your hand luggage when flying.
Asthma medications: brand names, INNs, and Indonesia availability
The table below lists common asthma medications alongside brand names registered and dispensed in Indonesia. Bring the INN and your home brand name to any apotek or hospital pharmacy.
Store below 30°C; avoid prolonged exposure to heat and direct sunlight.
Store at room temperature; protect from freezing and direct heat.
Store below 30°C. Seretide is available as a combination inhaler in Indonesian hospital pharmacies.
Prescription required; available at major urban pharmacies and hospital outpatient departments.
Theophylline and drug interactions
If you take theophylline alongside other asthma medications, inform any Indonesian clinician before they prescribe anything new. Theophylline has a narrow therapeutic window and interacts with commonly prescribed antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and erythromycin. Your Nomedic IPS lists your current medications and can prevent inadvertent co-prescription.
Travelling with inhalers and nebuliser equipment
If you travel with a portable nebuliser, spacer device, or any pressurised aerosol inhaler, these steps apply regardless of your destination within Indonesia.
Your medication list, ready to share.
Nomedic stores your medication name, INN, dosage, and frequency, readable by any clinician worldwide.
At your destination
Healthcare and prescriptions in Indonesia
Indonesia's national health system is called JKN (Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional), administered by BPJS Kesehatan. International travellers are not enrolled in JKN and must use private hospitals (rumah sakit swasta) or international clinics. Foreign prescriptions are not accepted at Indonesian pharmacies; to obtain an emergency replacement inhaler, you need a prescription from a registered Indonesian doctor. A specialist consultation at a private hospital costs Rp 350,000 to Rp 1,400,000 (~$22–$90 / ~€20–€83) depending on facility and doctor seniority.[5]
Pharmacies in Indonesia are called apotek. Major chains include Century Healthcare, Guardian, and Apotik Melawai, found in shopping malls and hospitals in Jakarta, Bali, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta. In urban apoteks, Ventolin (salbutamol) and Seretide (fluticasone/salmeterol) are generally stocked; Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) and Pulmicort (budesonide) are available at hospital pharmacies. Montelukast is a prescription item in Indonesia and requires a local doctor's note to dispense.
Prescription inhalers are dispensed differently in rural areas
Outside Jakarta, Bali, and major cities, combination inhalers such as Symbicort and Seretide may only be available at hospital pharmacies (apotek rumah sakit), not street-level apoteks. If you need an emergency supply outside an urban centre, go directly to the nearest hospital's outpatient department with your Nomedic IPS and specialist letter.
Finding an asthma specialist
The specialist you need is a dokter spesialis paru (pulmonologist). They are found in the poli paru (pulmonology outpatient department) of all major private and public hospitals. Siloam Hospitals (multiple locations across Java and Bali), RS Premier Bintaro, and BIMC Bali all have English-speaking pulmonologists and accept international patients without referral. Walk-in appointments are available but afternoon sessions (after 2 pm) often have shorter waits. Use Nomedic's provider search to find and save a pulmonologist near your accommodation before you travel.
Search for providers near your destination
Use Nomedic's provider search to find asthma specialists in Indonesia. Save the address and phone number offline before you travel.
If your inhaler is lost or runs out in Indonesia
Ventolin (salbutamol) is widely available at urban apoteks[6] in Indonesia and may sometimes be obtained without a prescription depending on the apotek's practice, particularly in tourist areas. Combination inhalers such as Symbicort or Seretide require a local prescription.
Managing air quality and humidity day to day
Indonesia's dry season (June to October) produces wildfire haze across Sumatra and Kalimantan that blankets entire regions and pushes PM2.5 to hazardous levels. In 2019, the World Bank recorded over 900,000 cases of acute respiratory infections linked to that year's haze crisis in Indonesia.[4]
Check the ISPU (Indeks Standar Pencemar Udara) index each morning via the KLHK app or IQAir. On days classified 'Tidak Sehat' (unhealthy) or above, wear an N95 mask outdoors and move planned outdoor activities indoors or postpone them. Air-conditioned hotels, shopping malls, and restaurants provide effective shelter during peak pollution hours (typically 8 am–11 am and 3 pm–6 pm in Jakarta). In Bali, Denpasar tends to have cleaner air than Java cities; hill areas such as Ubud record lower PM2.5 than coastal Kuta. Humidity averages 70–90% across the archipelago year-round, so keep inhalers in a sealed bag when not in use to protect the mechanism from moisture.
Pollution-triggered symptoms are not the same as a severe exacerbation
Increased coughing or mild wheeze after exposure to haze or traffic fumes is an expected irritant response. Use your reliever as per your personal asthma action plan and move to cleaner air. If symptoms do not improve within 20 minutes of using your reliever inhaler, or if you experience significant breathlessness at rest, follow the guidance in the Emergency tab.
Bahasa Indonesia phrases for clinicians
Show your Nomedic IPS first, it removes the need to explain your diagnosis verbally. If verbal communication is needed:
“id”
I have asthma.
“Saya sedang mengalami serangan asma.”
I am having an asthma attack.
“Saya membutuhkan dokter spesialis paru.”
I need a pulmonologist.
“Saya menggunakan inhaler salbutamol untuk asma saya.”
I use a salbutamol inhaler for my asthma.
“Di mana poli paru terdekat?”
Where is the nearest pulmonology department?
“Saya membutuhkan pengganti inhaler saya segera.”
I need an emergency replacement for my inhaler.
Insurance considerations
What to know about travel insurance
An undeclared or excluded asthma condition leaves you paying all costs out of pocket. Private specialist consultations in Indonesia range from Rp 350,000 to Rp 1,400,000 (~$22–$90 / ~€20–€83), while hospitalisation and emergency evacuation to Singapore or another regional centre can reach six figures in USD.
What to look for in a policy
Not just 'pre-existing conditions covered'. Your condition should be named on the policy schedule.
Covers repatriation if local care in Indonesia is insufficient, particularly relevant in rural islands.
Covers emergency replacement if inhalers are lost, damaged, or confiscated.
So someone can communicate with Indonesian clinicians on your behalf in Bahasa Indonesia.
What to declare at application
Declare thoroughly. Incomplete disclosure can invalidate your entire policy, not just the asthma-related claim.
State whether your asthma is mild, moderate, or severe, and whether it is controlled, partially controlled, or uncontrolled.
Use the INN alongside the brand name.
Date of most recent attack, whether it required oral steroids, A&E attendance, or hospitalisation.
Declare allergic rhinitis, eczema, GERD, or COPD if present alongside your asthma.
Your policy number and emergency assistance line, saved alongside your IPS and accessible offline.
Indonesia has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with the EU or EEA. An EHIC or GHIC card provides no coverage in Indonesia. EU and EEA travellers must arrange comprehensive private travel insurance before departure. All medical costs, including emergency treatment, are payable directly.
Emergency protocol
Getting to an emergency department in Indonesia
A severe attack is one where your reliever inhaler provides no improvement within 20 minutes, you cannot complete a sentence due to breathlessness, or your lips or fingernails show any blue discolouration. Call 118 (ambulance) immediately or take the fastest available transport to the nearest private hospital emergency department (IGD, or Instalasi Gawat Darurat). Contact your travel insurer's emergency line as soon as you are able, pre-authorisation for hospital admission may be required.
When you arrive, follow in order
Full clinical picture in seconds, no verbal explanation needed.
Hand your phone to the triage nurse:
Saya mengalami serangan asma parah. Saya membutuhkan nebuliser dan salbutamol segera.
I am having a severe asthma attack. I need a nebuliser and salbutamol immediately.
Show the medications section of your Nomedic IPS, including preventer and reliever names and doses.
If you have any drug allergies, point to the allergy section of your IPS before any IV or nebulised treatment begins.
Calls and location
Ambulance: 118. Police: 110. Fire: 113. GSM emergency (all networks): 112. If you are in a tourist area, ask any hotel, restaurant, or tour guide to call for you and help communicate your location, addresses in rural Indonesia can be difficult to convey without local knowledge.
In hospital
If you have aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) or known sensitivity to NSAIDs, tell the treating clinician before they prescribe any pain medication. Indonesian emergency departments frequently use ibuprofen and ketorolac; your Nomedic IPS drug allergy field is the fastest way to communicate this.
After any emergency
Before you leave the hospital if possible.
Required for insurer reimbursement and continuity of care.
Open Nomedic and tap Share to generate a QR code any clinician can scan.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my asthma medication into Indonesia?
Yes. BPOM permits a personal supply of up to 90 days for standard prescription medications such as inhalers, provided you carry a supporting doctor's prescription and original packaging.[1]
Do not post medication to Indonesia
Mailing prescription medicines into Indonesia is prohibited. Always carry inhalers in your hand luggage.
Are asthma medications available in Indonesian pharmacies?
Ventolin (salbutamol) is stocked in most urban apoteks and can often be obtained without a prescription as an emergency supply in tourist areas. Combination inhalers such as Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) and Seretide (fluticasone/salmeterol) require a local prescription and are most reliably found at hospital pharmacies (apotek rumah sakit) in major cities. Montelukast always requires a local prescription.
What are the emergency numbers in Indonesia?
Ambulance
118
Police
110
Fire
113
GSM / Universal emergency
112
How can I communicate my asthma diagnosis in an emergency in Indonesia?
Show your Nomedic IPS first. If verbal communication is needed:
“Saya menderita asma.”
I have asthma.
“Saya menggunakan inhaler salbutamol dan budesonide.”
I use a salbutamol and budesonide inhaler.
Is Indonesia's wildfire season a serious risk for people with asthma?
Yes. The dry season from June to October brings forest and peatland fires to Sumatra and Kalimantan, generating haze that blankets major cities. In 2024, Indonesia's population-weighted PM2.5 averaged around 35 µg/m³, roughly seven times the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³[3].
Track air quality daily
Use the ISPU index via the KLHK app or IQAir. Wear an N95 mask outdoors on days classified 'Tidak Sehat' (Unhealthy) or worse. If possible, schedule travel to Bali or eastern islands outside the June to October window.
Do I need special travel insurance to visit Indonesia with asthma?
Standard travel insurance policies exclude pre-existing conditions unless they are explicitly declared and accepted. Indonesia has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with any country, so all treatment costs are out of pocket without valid insurance. Ensure asthma is named on your policy schedule and that emergency medical evacuation is included.
Declare thoroughly
Disclose your asthma severity, current medications, last exacerbation date, and associated conditions. Incomplete disclosure invalidates the entire policy, not just asthma-related claims.
Sources
- [1] Bali Doc — Bringing Prescription Medications to Bali: Indonesia Customs and BPOM Guidelines
- [2] Indonesian Ministry of Health — Official Homepage
- [3] Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air — Indonesia Air Quality 2024
- [4] Breathe Safe Air — Air Pollution in Indonesia: Understanding the Crisis
- [5] International-Sante — Expatriate Health Insurance in Indonesia: Consultation Costs
- [6] Drugs.com — Salbutamol International Brand Names Reference
- [7] BPOM — Indonesian National Drug Regulatory Authority Official Site
More guides in Indonesia
- CityBali Health Guide
- ConditionTravelling to Indonesia with Diabetes: Medications, Healthcare and Emergency Protocols
- ConditionTravelling to Indonesia with Celiac Disease: Medications, Healthcare and Gluten Safety
- ConditionFibromyalgia in Indonesia: Heat, Humidity and Medication Import Rules
- ConditionHypertension in Indonesia: Heat, Humidity and Medication Import Rules
- ConditionTravelling to Indonesia with ADHD: Medications, Customs Rules and Healthcare
- MedicationAdderall in Indonesia: Category I Narcotic Ban, ADHD Plan