Indonesia has a formal healthcare regulatory system made up of national government bodies, professional councils, specialist colleges, professional associations, facility licensing processes and accreditation systems.
For guests considering dental, medical, cosmetic or surgical treatment in Bali and Indonesia, it is helpful to understand what these organisations do — and just as importantly, what they do not do.
The purpose is not for guests to become experts in Indonesian regulation. The purpose is to help them ask better questions, understand provider qualifications more clearly, and make more informed decisions before treatment.
TJC Group does not provide legal, medical, dental or surgical advice. Regulatory information should always be checked directly with the relevant official body, provider, hospital, clinic or legal adviser.
Ministry of Health — Kementerian Kesehatan / Kemenkes
The Indonesian Ministry of Health, commonly referred to as Kemenkes, is the central government ministry responsible for health affairs in Indonesia.
Kemenkes sits at the top of Indonesia’s healthcare system. Its role includes national health policy, public health programmes, health facilities, health workforce development, pharmacy, medical devices and healthcare regulation. The Ministry’s official website includes service areas for health facilities, health human resources, pharmacy and medical devices, health policy and SATUSEHAT, Indonesia’s national digital health platform. (Ministry of Health Indonesia)
For patients, Kemenkes is important because it forms part of the wider framework that regulates hospitals, clinics, healthcare workers, health policy, medical devices and national health standards.
In simple terms: Kemenkes is the main government health authority.
Indonesian Health Council — Konsil Kesehatan Indonesia / KKI
The Konsil Kesehatan Indonesia, or KKI, is one of the most important bodies for understanding whether doctors, dentists and other healthcare workers are properly registered.
Following Indonesia’s Health Law No. 17 of 2023, the previous medical and health workforce councils were brought together into the newer KKI structure, supported by the Kolegium Kesehatan Indonesia and the Majelis Disiplin Profesi. (kki.go.id)
KKI’s role includes professional registration, management of STR data, technical professional guidance, professional standards and discipline-related processes. KKI states that it has authority to issue, deactivate and revoke STR registration for medical and healthcare workers. (kki.go.id)
For patients, this matters because a dentist, doctor, surgeon or healthcare professional should be properly registered and working within the correct professional scope.
In simple terms: KKI is the key body connected with professional registration and competence for Indonesian medical and health workers.
STR — Surat Tanda Registrasi
An STR, or Surat Tanda Registrasi, is a professional registration certificate.
For patients, this is one of the key documents to ask about when checking whether a doctor, dentist or other healthcare professional is registered in Indonesia.
An STR is not the same as a clinic advertisement, social media profile or professional title. It is connected to formal professional registration.
Guests may ask a provider:
- Does the treating dentist, doctor or surgeon hold an active STR?
- What is their full registered professional name?
- What is their specialist title, if they are claiming to be a specialist?
- Is the person performing the treatment the same person named in the treatment plan?
KKI’s website includes a search/check function for medical and health workers and displays registration-related services. (kki.go.id)
In simple terms: STR helps confirm that the clinician is formally registered.
SIP — Surat Izin Praktik
An SIP, or Surat Izin Praktik, is a practice permit.
While an STR relates to professional registration, an SIP is generally connected to permission to practise at a particular facility or location.
For patients, this distinction matters. A practitioner may be qualified, but guests should still feel comfortable asking whether they are permitted to perform the treatment at the clinic or hospital where the appointment is taking place.
Guests may ask:
- Does the clinician have permission to practise at this facility?
- Is the treatment taking place in a licensed clinic or hospital?
- Is the procedure within the provider’s usual scope of practice?
- Who is legally and clinically responsible for my treatment?
In simple terms: STR relates to registration; SIP relates to permission to practise.
Kolegium Kesehatan Indonesia
The Kolegium Kesehatan Indonesia supports professional standards, competencies and training-related frameworks for different health disciplines.
KKI describes the Kolegium as supporting the development of branches of medical and health disciplines, including competency standards and training curriculum standards. (kki.go.id)
For patients, the Kolegium is relevant because specialist titles and professional competencies should not be vague marketing terms. They should relate to recognised training, competency and professional standards.
This is particularly important in areas such as:
- oral and maxillofacial surgery;
- periodontics;
- prosthodontics;
- orthodontics;
- endodontics;
- plastic and reconstructive surgery;
- dermatology;
- anaesthesia;
- women’s health;
- other specialist medical disciplines.
In simple terms: the Kolegium helps define professional competence and specialist standards.
Majelis Disiplin Profesi / MDP
The Majelis Disiplin Profesi, or MDP, is connected with professional discipline.
KKI explains that the MDP can receive and verify complaints, examine complaints, determine whether a professional discipline breach has occurred, issue decisions and make recommendations. (kki.go.id)
For patients, this is important because it shows that Indonesia has a formal process for professional discipline. It also reinforces why provider identity, documentation, consent, treatment plans and clinical records matter.
In simple terms: MDP is connected with professional discipline and complaints involving medical and healthcare workers.
PDGI — Persatuan Dokter Gigi Indonesia
PDGI is the Indonesian Dental Association.
For dental patients, PDGI is relevant because it is the national professional organisation for dentists in Indonesia. The PDGI website includes dental professional information, regional and branch structures, training-related material and a “Cek Dokter Gigi” function. (PB PDGI)
PDGI membership or association is useful context, but guests should still ask about formal registration, qualifications, specialist training and the treating dentist’s actual role in their care.
For complex dental treatment, this matters especially for:
- dental implants;
- surgical extractions;
- bone grafting;
- full-mouth rehabilitation;
- complex crowns and bridges;
- implant-supported prosthetics;
- cases involving gum disease, bone loss or bite problems.
In simple terms: PDGI is the professional dental association, but patients should still ask about STR, specialist qualifications and who is actually treating them.
Medical Professional Associations
Indonesia also has professional associations for doctors and specialist groups.
These may include general medical associations and specialist professional associations for particular fields such as plastic surgery, dermatology, anaesthesia, obstetrics and gynaecology, and other medical disciplines.
For patients, professional association membership can be useful, but it should not be treated as the only proof of suitability.
Guests should still ask:
- What is the doctor’s full name and specialist title?
- Are they registered?
- Are they practising within their recognised scope?
- Where will the procedure be performed?
- What facility support is available?
- Who handles complications?
- What aftercare is included?
In simple terms: professional association membership is helpful, but it does not replace registration, facility standards or proper clinical assessment.
Hospital and Clinic Accreditation
Hospitals and clinics may also be subject to licensing and accreditation processes.
Accreditation is a quality and safety process used to assess healthcare organisations against standards. It generally involves self-assessment and external peer review, and is intended to support quality improvement and patient safety. (Wikipedia)
Indonesia has recognised healthcare accreditation bodies, including hospital accreditation bodies such as KARS and other independent accreditation institutions. (Wikipedia)
For patients, accreditation is a helpful trust signal, but it should not be treated as a guarantee of outcome. A hospital or clinic may be licensed or accredited, but guests still need to understand:
- who is performing the treatment;
- what their qualifications are;
- what facility the treatment is taking place in;
- what equipment and emergency support are available;
- what aftercare is provided;
- how complications are managed.
In simple terms: accreditation supports safety and quality, but it does not guarantee a perfect result.
BPOM — Medicines, Cosmetics, Traditional Medicines and Product Safety
BPOM, the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority, is the national body connected with the supervision of medicines, food, traditional medicines, health supplements and cosmetics in Indonesia.
BPOM’s role is often compared broadly with medicine and product safety regulators in other countries. It is relevant for patients because many dental, cosmetic, dermatology and wellness treatments may involve products, medicines, cosmetics, injectables, skincare, supplements or traditional products. BPOM supervises areas including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vaccines, supplements, traditional medicines, food safety and cosmetics. (Wikipedia)
For guests, this matters particularly when considering:
- injectables;
- skincare products;
- prescription medicines;
- antibiotics;
- pain relief;
- supplements;
- traditional medicines;
- cosmetics;
- products used in aesthetic treatment.
Guests should be cautious with unlabelled products, informal suppliers, unusual injectables, imported cosmetics, strong skin-lightening products, unregulated supplements or any medicine that is not clearly supplied through a proper clinical or pharmacy pathway.
In simple terms: BPOM is relevant to product, medicine, cosmetic and supplement safety.
Medical Devices and Equipment
Medical and dental treatment may involve equipment, implants, devices, scanners, surgical tools, lasers, anaesthetic equipment, dental materials and other medical technologies.
The Indonesian Ministry of Health includes pharmacy and medical devices within its health service areas, and medical device regulation sits within the wider national healthcare regulatory framework. (Ministry of Health Indonesia)
For patients, this means it is reasonable to ask what products or materials are being used, especially for:
- dental implants;
- crowns and veneers;
- bone grafting materials;
- surgical implants;
- lasers;
- aesthetic devices;
- injectables;
- anaesthetic equipment;
- sterilisation equipment.
Guests may ask:
- What brand or material is being used?
- Is it approved for clinical use in Indonesia?
- Is it suitable for my case?
- Is there documentation or warranty information?
- What happens if there is a product-related issue later?
In simple terms: the materials and devices used in treatment matter, not just the clinic name.
Why This Matters for Patients
Understanding Indonesian regulation helps guests move beyond social media recommendations and price comparisons.
A safe treatment decision should consider:
- the treating clinician’s identity;
- professional registration;
- specialist qualifications;
- facility licensing;
- hospital or clinic standards;
- product and medicine safety;
- consent;
- aftercare;
- complication planning;
- realistic expectations.
This is especially important for dental implants, full-mouth rehabilitation, plastic surgery, reconstructive surgery, injectables, laser treatment, dermatology, women’s health procedures and any treatment involving anaesthetic or recovery time.
Questions Guests Should Ask Before Treatment
Before committing to treatment, guests should feel comfortable asking:
- Who will perform my treatment?
- What are their qualifications?
- Do they hold current registration?
- Are they a general practitioner, dentist, specialist or surgeon?
- What does their specialist title mean?
- Where will the treatment take place?
- Is the clinic or hospital licensed?
- Is the facility appropriate for this procedure?
- What products, medicines, implants or materials will be used?
- What are the risks and possible complications?
- What aftercare is provided?
- What happens if something goes wrong?
- What documentation will I receive?
- Who do I contact once I return home?
These questions are not rude. They are reasonable healthcare questions.
TJC Group’s Approach
TJC Group believes that guests should not be expected to understand Indonesian healthcare regulation on their own.
The role of TJC Group is to help guests ask better questions, understand key differences between provider types, recognise why qualifications and facility standards matter, and approach treatment decisions with more confidence.
TJC Group does not diagnose, prescribe, provide clinical advice or replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.
Final diagnosis, treatment suitability, pricing, risks, consent and aftercare must always be confirmed directly with the treating clinic, hospital, dentist, surgeon or healthcare provider.
Simple Summary
Indonesia has a structured healthcare system with different bodies responsible for health policy, professional registration, discipline, dental and medical professional standards, facility accreditation, medicines, cosmetics and product safety.
For patients, the most important point is simple:
Do not choose treatment based only on price, photographs or popularity. Ask who is treating you, what they are qualified to do, where the treatment will take place, what standards apply, and what happens if follow-up or complication care is needed.
TJC Group exists to help guests feel informed, reassured, guided and protected before making major healthcare decisions in Bali and Indonesia.
