When cases of coronavirus rise in Indonesia, Indonesian doctors work double-time, treating patients both in hospitals and online via health-tech start-ups like Telehealth. It is an strategy that is increasingly becoming part of the national health-care system.
Dr Mohammad Risandi Priatama, 26, has diagnosed 10 people with COVID-19 symptoms in a busy West Java hospital in a designated “Red Zone” virus over the past month. Then, it gives hundreds more consultation via the Alodokter app. Therefore, Indonesian doctors work in an extra time in hospitals and online as there are limited facilities in hospitals.
With a lack of medical staff and protective gear, and under 4,000 hospital beds for seriously ill COVID-19 patients in an archipelago of 270 million people, authorities have little capacity to manage what some experts believe is an epidemic that has been hidden so far by limited testing.
Indonesia has reported 3,293 cases of COVID-19, the disease that the novel coronavirus causes. Its death toll of 280 is the highest in Asia outside of China.
Government Demand
The epidemic has caused an spike in telehealth demand worldwide. Millions in China flocked to platforms like the ones provided by Ping An Good Doctor and Alibaba Health Information Technology Ltd.
Officials said they want to see telehealth care of COVID-19 patients with only minor symptoms. And also, the physicians referring those whose condition worsens to hospitals.
The task force, healthtech companies and doctors have agreed to exchange aggregate patient data in order to assist attempts to stop the spread of the virus and determine what other knowledge can be exchanged with them.
Overall, health experts said telehealth is a partial solution to cope with the patient surge. Although consideration also should be given to the quality of online consultation and the security of medical data.
Virtual Treatment
One Jakarta coronavirus patient told Reuters about the symptoms. She turned to Halodoc after a CT scan showed white patches in her lungs. She found it difficult to get treatment.
Halodoc takes a part into the prevention of coronavirus. It has 12 million monthly users before the outbreak. In addition, it is providing drug distribution through collaborations with pharmacies, labs and Gojek ride-hailer. And also, it provides free drive-through rapid COVID-19 testing to residents of Jakarta, as based on teleconsultation references, with Gojek.