Nathanael Faibis, Founder, Alodokter

On leveraging health technology to combat the pandemic

How are telemedicine platforms easing the burden of Covid-19 on Indonesia’s hospitals and medical professionals?

NATHANAEL FAIBIS: As the government continues its efforts against the spread of Covid-19, it is important for companies in the health sector to employ their offerings to assist the government and the people of Indonesia. The development of telemedicine services has come at a time when people need it most. 

With hospitals operating above capacity, the government wants to ensure that only priority patients visit emergency rooms; patients who do not urgently need hospitalisation can be helped through online services. We saw 32m website visitors in March 2020 alone, and since Indonesia’s first confirmed case, our doctors have undertaken over 500,000 free consultations for patients who suspect that they may have the virus and for those who exhibit mild symptoms. If a patient’s condition worsens, online doctors will refer him or her to hospitals. We are also conducting comprehensive training for medical teams in the face of this crisis.

What role can telemedicine services play in sharing health advice with Indonesians, both during the Covid-19 pandemic and once the virus has been brought under control?

FAIBIS: The importance of telemedicine services in a country such as Indonesia was recognised even before this crisis: we have a vast rural population that oftentimes do not have easy access to medical services or health care information. 

Telemedicine has the potential to save Indonesians a lot of time and money, as well as help patients decide whether to stay at home, visit a doctor or go to the emergency room. Seeing a doctor can be a difficult decision to make, with hours of travel and considerable expense for those in rural areas. By using telemedicine, individuals can have a quickly arranged discussion with a qualified specialist about their options, allowing access to critical medical information efficiently and often immediately. 

In the midst of this pandemic, characterised by self-isolation and social distancing, digital health services are proving their worth in supporting the Indonesian population. Digital services – including artificial intelligence solutions such as chatbots – enable users to rapidly source answers to questions about the virus, thus providing easy access to accurate information regarding the risks of contracting Covid-19 and facilitating self-diagnosis.

The Indonesian Covid-19 task force, as well as regional governments, recognises the value of telemedicine services. The task force is working closely with medical technology companies such as ours to ensure that Indonesians have access to ample information and online consultations. Regional governments, meanwhile, are spreading awareness of telemedicine services to promote medically accurate information. Furthermore, we are collaborating with telecommunications companies such as Telkomsel, which has provided a free quota of data for customers who use our online consultations. This is an important mechanism to distribute accurate information about Covid-19. Another key element to combatting the disease is sharing data collected through telemedicine platforms with the Covid-19 task force and other stakeholders so we can work together to flatten the curve. 

Where do you see room for regional collaboration and technology sharing to combat Covid-19 in South-east Asia? 

FAIBIS: We have seen quite a bit of interest in our services and expertise from other countries in South-east Asia and around the globe. Unfortunately, countries find themselves in a difficult position and their economies are struggling to function in the traditional sense. Social distancing and self-isolation are impacting how people live their lives. We therefore need creative solutions.

It is important to ensure social distancing and the spread of accurate medical information during this pandemic. Telehealth can play a key role towards this end. Even before the pandemic, telemedicine services allowed users to benefit from medical consultations in the comfort of their homes and have medications delivered. This is particularly useful for more vulnerable members of our society such as the disabled or elderly, and these functions will remain going forward. 

Which measures can Indonesians take to boost their overall health and resilience to threats such as Covid-19, and how can technology aid these efforts? 

FAIBIS: Indonesia is facing a growing prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases, and without intervention this challenge is expected to continue. It will be necessary to promote healthy habits, inform communities about the risks of chronic conditions and promote sport among young people to reverse this trend. On the diet side, food apps can provide access to fresh groceries, and cooking apps such as Yummy offer thousands of healthy video recipes tailored to Indonesian tastes. While such developments are still in the early stages, it is already easier to live a healthy lifestyle today than it was in the past. Those with a healthy lifestyle and diet not only have fewer risk factors associated with lifestyle-related diseases, but benefit from stronger immunity to health threats – including Covid-19.