Telehealth and AI urged to expand healthcare access in Indonesia

Telehealth and artificial intelligence are being promoted as a way to reach Indonesian patients in places where healthcare workers remain scarce and geography makes access difficult.

The push was discussed at the Jakarta forum “Healthier Futures, Sooner: How Technology Closes the Gap in Care.” Participants examined telehealth, remote patient monitoring, AI, wearable sensors, biomarkers and connected health systems.

Indonesia faces an uneven distribution of medical and health personnel. Workers are concentrated in urban areas and on Java, while eastern parts of the country experience major shortages. The technologies could help extend existing capacity without always requiring patients and healthcare workers to be in the same location.

AI, biomarkers and wearable devices could support earlier diagnosis, patient monitoring, prevention and rehabilitation. However, healthcare professionals would still need to remain involved so that the tools match clinical needs.

Ross Vlahos of RMIT University said, “Researchers, clinicians, and healthcare organisations need to work together from the outset so that new ideas can be applied safely and effectively in healthcare.” RMIT University and Mandaya Hospital Group also discussed joint research and ways to apply research findings in clinical practice. Mandaya President Director Ben Widaja said combining RMIT’s research expertise with Mandaya’s local clinical knowledge could help identify solutions relevant to Indonesia.

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Researchers, clinicians, and healthcare organisations need to work together from the outset so that new ideas can be applied safely and effectively in healthcare.