Indonesia teen, 16, couldn't buy new shoes due to family poverty, dies after being locked out of state healthcare system

A teenager's death in East Kalimantan, Indonesia has sparked conversation about the lack of healthcare access for the country's poorest population.

According to Indonesian media reports, the 16-year-old student, Mandala Rizky Syaputra, had been wearing shoes that were too small for him for a while.

His mother had often suggested buying him new ones over the years, but he reportedly declined so as to not burden his family.

Teachers and classmates from the teen's school eventually stepped in to help the family financially, but Mandala succumbed to a bout of health issues before much assistance could be rendered.

It was later found that he had been locked out of Indonesia's social security and healthcare system, BPJS, due to his family's poverty.

Initial reports

Early reports portrayed Mandala's death as caused by a leg infection due to shoes that were four sizes too small.

According to local media outlet Kompas, the teen's mother said her son had been forced to wear size 40 shoes even though his feet were size 44.

While he initially felt soreness, he refused to see a doctor and ultimately developed blisters and wounds on his feet.

"Every day it was red and very painful. But he still wore those shoes. He tucked them in with pink fruit wrappers to keep them from hurting," his mother said.

She also told the media that Mandala's leg condition significantly worsened over a period of two months, starting from when he had to stand for long periods during an internship.

Some time in March 2026, Mandala's school provided assistance in the form of uniforms, school supplies, basic necessities and rental assistance after finding out about the boy's financial situation.

They also reportedly provided Rp200,000 (S$14.45) in financial aid.

But at the start of April 2026, Mandala began showing signs of paleness and fatigue, and he missed school on multiple occasions.

On Apr. 21, his teacher and vice-principal, alongside two of Mandala's friends, visited his home.

He was noted to look weak, walk slowly, and have shaky hands.

School personnel continued visiting the family with supplies for days, but were eventually informed on Apr. 24 that Mandala had passed away.

Not just a shoe issue

Mandala's school denied that the teen's death was caused by shoes that were too small, citing a lack of medical diagnosis.

There were also reportedly no injuries found on the feet, aside from swelling at the back.

But a later report by Kompas revealed that some time during their home visits, the school found out that Mandala's family was in arrears with the BPJS system.

This caused them to be blocked from accessing their health insurance.

"The school helped with the activation of BPJS Kesehatan membership, but there were population administration issues," said an East Kalimantan education official.

As a result, Mandala's family was unable to send him to a hospital when his health deteriorated.

They turned to alternative treatment instead, but Mandala ended up succumbing to his illness.

Not an isolated incident

The case attracted the attention of various social groups who pointed out that Mandala's case was not an isolated incident.

Many school-aged children do not receive an education and face health issues, they said.

One advocacy group said that local governments should ensure that health access is available to all residents, including the poor and at-risk.

This can be done through outreach to residents, as well as through accurate data collection and tracking of residents.

"Don't let any residents be left behind just because of administration."