Telehealth: Just What The Doctor Ordered

Two things seem to be generating a lot of interest in Indonesia right now; the digital eco-system and health care, which is why an article written by Nana Shibata and Ismi Damayanti, staff writers for Nikkei Asia, is worth a closer look.

They argue that Indonesia’s geography has hindered access to fast and efficient health care, with many people in outlying areas being denied access to even the most rudimentary medical facilities.

However, the development of digital platforms and Apps offering telemedicinal services could be just what the doctor ordered; Alodokter is one such App and it has over 80,000 affiliated physicians involved offering online consultations, while Halodoc has around 20-million active monthly users, say Nikkei Asia.

It’s a trend becoming popular in other Southeast Asian countries, spurred by increasing demand for health care and a shortage of doctors in a region approaching 700-million people, write Shibata and Damayanti.

They contend that increasing smartphone use has allowed Southeast Asians to experience the convenience of on-demand App services in ride-hailing, food delivery, e-commerce and a range of other businesses, a trend accelerated by COVID. Telehealth is no exception.

Singapore’s Doctor Anywhere is a good example, which aims to acquire Asian Healthcare Specialists (AHS) who have more than 10-facilities providing services, so after a teleconsultation, Doctor Anywhere can send patients needing a hospital visit to one of the AHS medical facilities. While the Philippines has announced it would consolidate three health care companies into one health-tech super App, which is expected to go live by the end of Q1/ 2023, say Nikkei Asia.

According to Shibata and Damayanti, Indonesia’s Halodoc aims to increase the number of active monthly users to 100-million in the coming years, pegging “strategic countries” Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia for expansion, As of December 2022, Halodoc’s medicine delivery business was delivering prescriptions to 400-cities across the archipelago. Patients in 120 of those cities, the company says, can receive their medicine within 15-minutes of placing an order.

The Nikkei Asia article goes on to say that telemedicine helps health care systems in the region deal with the lack of doctors as populations rise. Indonesia, for example, had 6.95-physicians per 10,000-people in 2021, below Thailand’s 9.28 in 2020 and Myanmar’s 7.51 in 2019, according to the World Health Organization. At the other end of the scale, there were 35.55-physicians per 10,000 people in the U.S. as of 2020 and 26.14 in Japan. In China, the figure was 23.87 in 2020.

According to the WHO’s global health expenditure database, Indonesia’s health expenditure came to USD 36-billion in 2020, which is an increase of 71-percent from 2010, while Thailand’s nearly doubled to USD 22-billion during the same time frame. Medical spending in other Southeast Asian countries has also increased dramatically, say Nikkei Asia.

An alternative type of Healthcare App is another Indonesian initiative, Klinik Pintar, which not only offers health teleconsulting, but also believes physical clinics also play an important role.

Nikkei Asia report that Harya Bimo, CEO of Klinik Pintar, believes those who live in big cities tend to TeleConsult with their doctors via online chats, while patients in remote areas have less access to such services. Also, many blue-collar workers are still not familiar with technology and web-based services, which is why Klinik Pintar is trying to bridge the gap between online and offline services and develop a hybrid concept.

Issues around data security are, of course, critical to resolve, but it is encouraging that Telehealth Apps and hybrid initiatives combining technology with traditional clinics are being developed and the conversation is happening as this will have a positive impact on the nation’s health.

Source: Nikkei Asia

Latest Article
Exceeding Customer Expectations on Gili Air
By Tanja Harjuniemi The Finnish-owned boutique hotel, Hani Hideaway, jumped to the top of customer reviews...
Jokowi Encourages Ministries to Integrate with INA Digital
In a limited meeting on the transformation and integration of national digital services at the Merdeka...
New National Strategic Projects Announced
Tempo is reporting that the Indonesian Government has identified 14 new national strategic projects (PSNs)...
Jokowi Inaugurates West Kalimantan’s Singkawang Airport
President Jokowi officially opened Singkawang Airport in Singkawang, West Kalimantan, on Wednesday (20/3/24,)...
Indonesia Looks to Foreign Investors in 2024
Jakarta Globe is reporting that Investment Minister, Bahlil Lahadalia has said that Indonesia aims to...

Andrzej Barski

Director of Seven Stones Indonesia

Andrzej is Co-owner/ Founder and Director of Seven Stones Indonesia. He was born in the UK to Polish parents and has been living in Indonesia for more than 33-years. He is a skilled writer, trainer and marketer with a deep understanding of Indonesia and its many cultures after spending many years travelling across the archipelago from North Sumatra to Irian Jaya.

His experience covers Marketing, Branding, Advertising, Publishing, Real Estate and Training for 5-Star Hotels and Resorts in Bali and Jakarta, which has given him a passion for the customer experience. He’s a published author and a regular contributor to local and regional publications. His interests include conservation, eco-conscious initiatives, spirituality and motorcycles. Andrzej speaks English and Indonesian.

Terje H. Nilsen

Director of Seven Stones Indonesia

Terje is from Norway and has been living in Indonesia for over 20-years. He first came to Indonesia as a child and after earning his degree in Business Administration from the University of Agder in Norway, he moved to Indonesia in 1993, where he has worked in leading positions in education and the fitness/ wellness industries all over Indonesia including Jakarta, Banjarmasin, Medan and Bali.

He was Co-owner and CEO of the Paradise Property Group for 10-years and led the company to great success. He is now Co-owner/ Founder and Director of Seven Stones Indonesia offering market entry services for foreign investors, legal advice, sourcing of investments and in particular real estate investments. He has a soft spot for eco-friendly and socially sustainable projects and investments, while his personal business strengths are in property law, tourism trends, macroeconomics, Indonesian government and regulations. His personal interests are in sport, adventure, history and spiritual experiences.

Terje’s leadership, drive and knowledge are recognised across many industries and his unrivalled network of high level contacts in government and business spans the globe. He believes you do good and do well but always in that order. Terje speaks English, Indonesian and Norwegian.

Contact Our Consultants

Ridwan Jasin Zachrie

CFO of Seven Stones Indonesia, Jakarta

Ridwan is one of Indonesia’s top executives with a long and illustrious career in the financial world. He holds several professional certifications including being a Certified Business Valuer (CBV) issued by the Australian Academy of Finance and Management; Broker-Dealer Representative (WPPE); and The Directorship Certification for Directors and Commissioners, issued by the Indonesian Institute of Commissioners and Directors.

His experience includes being the Managing Director at one of the top investment banking groups in the region, the Recapital Group, the CFO at State-owned enterprises in fishery industry and the CEO at Tanri Abeng & Son Holding. He’s also been an Independent Commissioner in several Financial Service companies and on the Audit and Risk Committee at Bank BTPN Tbk, Berau Coal Energy Tbk, Aetra Air Jakarta as well as working for Citibank, Bank Mandiri and HSBC. His last position was as CFO at PT Citra Putra Mandiri – OSO Group.

Ridwan has won a number of prestigious awards including the Best CFO Awards 2019 (Institute of Certified Management Accountant Australia-Indonesia); Asia Pacific Young Business Leader awarded by Asia 21 Network New York USA (Tokyo 2008); UK Alumni Business Awards 2008 awarded by the British Council; and The Most Inspiring Human Resources Practitioners’ version of Human Capital Magazine 2010.

He’s a member of the Board of Trustees of the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Law, Trisakti University, Co-Founder of the Paramadina Public Policy Institute and actively writes books, publications and articles in the mass media. He co-authored “Korupsi Mengorupsi Indonesia” in 2009, which helps those with an interest in understanding governance in Indonesia and the critical issue of corruption. Ridwan speaks Indonesian and English.

Per Fredrik Ecker

Managing Director of Seven Stones Indonesia, Jakarta

Per is the Managing Director of the Seven Stones Indonesia (SSI) Jakarta office and has more than 25-years’ experience in Indonesia, China, and Western Europe. He previously worked in senior management positions with Q-Free ASA, Siemens AG, and other companies in the telecom sector. Over the last six years, he has been the Chairman of the Indonesia-Norway Business Council (INBC) and recently become elected to be on the board of EuroCham Indonesia.

His most recent experience is within Intelligent Transport Solutions (ITS), Telecom, and other sectors within the Indonesian market. He is today through his position in SSI and by representing Norway Connect, promoting Nordic and European companies that would like to explore business opportunities in the Indonesian market. He’s also playing an active role to help create the Nordic House concept in Jakarta that will provide an excellent platform for Nordic companies entering Indonesia, where they’ll find a community that can offer support with trusted information and affordable services to enter this market.