JAKARTA – As coronavirus cases surge in Indonesia, doctors are working double-time treating patients both at hospitals and online through health tech startups – an approach that is quickly becoming part of the national healthcare system.
Dr Mohammad Risandi Priatama, 26, has treated 10 people with Covid-19 symptoms over the past month at a busy West Java hospital in a designated virus “red zone” – and provided consultation for scores more through the app Alodokter.
“Because there are limited healthcare facilities especially in my district, our people need more information that is easy to use without the need to go the hospital,” he told Reuters.
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.
To lessen the strain, the government is directing the public to so-called telehealth firms through which they can access verified medical guidance, get free doctor consultations via video, telephone or text, and even have medication prescribed and delivered.
Indonesia’s largest telehealth firms, including Alodokter, Halodoc and GrabHealth – a joint venture between Singapore ride-hailer Grab and Ping An Good Doctor from China’s Ping An Healthcare and Technology Co Ltd – have seen usage skyrocket over the past month.
“As hospitals are already packed, the government wants to ensure only priority patients are going to emergency rooms and that patients who don’t urgently need hospitalisation can be helped online,” said Alodokter Chief Executive Nathanael Faibis.
Alodokter clocked 32 million website visitors in March and over 500,000 free coronavirus consultations since Indonesia’s first confirmed case on March 2, Faibis said. Grabhealth said daily consultations had nearly doubled to 10,000.
Indonesia has recorded 3,293 cases of Covid-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. Its death toll of 280 is Asia’s highest outside China, where the virus was first reported at the end of last year.
Government demand
Telehealth Takes the Spotlight Amid COVID-19
When the pandemic hit, folks worldwide scrambled for a way to keep their health in check without stepping into crowded clinics. The answer? Telehealth – the digital healthcare boom that’s reshaping how we get medical advice.
China Goes Full-On Digital
- Mass‑migration to services like Ping An Good Doctor and Alibaba Health IT.
- Mille‑plus de patients using video calls, chat and online check‑ups.
U.S. and Europe Follow Suit
In the states, Teladoc Health Inc. witnessed a two‑fold jump in demand, catching up to 100,000 consults a week. French and German platforms felt the same surge.
Indonesia: A True Case Study
What’s special about Indonesia? The government isn’t just buying into telehealth – it’s driving it. On March 27, the national virus task force announced plans to embed links to 20 telehealth apps on its site and set up a “digital call centre” to funnel traffic.
Mild‑Case Management
Authorities want people with only mild COVID‑19 symptoms to start with a video call or phone session. If symptoms flare, doctors will refer them to a hospital.
“This is a real win for people who are self‑isolating,’’ said Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto at parliament a week ago. “They stay connected, get guidance, and no longer feel left out.”
Data Sharing for a Faster Response
The task force, tech firms and doctors have agreed to share aggregated patient data to help push back the spread of the virus. Discussions continue on which additional data streams can be safely shared.
West Java: A Local Telehealth Solution
In West Java, where infections hit 365 and 35 deaths, the provincial government rolled out its own telehealth platform. With 49 million residents, people can book COVID‑19 tests online.
West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil explained that the app asks “comprehensive questions” to keep people from heading to a hospital for trivial symptoms. “Some folks are afraid hospitals are full of the virus,’’ he added.
Expert Take: Telehealth is a Helpful Tool, but It Isn’t a Panacea
Dr. Shela Putri Sundawa from a Jakarta hospital points out that telehealth is great for basic Q&As. “But meeting patients in person is a whole different ball game. Can a doctor do that over the phone? There’s a limit to how far online care can go.”
In short, telehealth has proven to be a crucial stop‑gap to reduce patient overload, yet quality, privacy and security must still hold up. The future of online medical care is bright but demands careful attention to keep patients safe.
Virtual treatment
Jakarta’s Crowd‑Control Crisis: When Hospitals Overwhelm, Your Phone Becomes a Lifeline
Picture this: You’re stricken by a cough, your doctor says you need a quick scan, and the CT machine reveals an unsettling swirl of white patches in your lungs. You’re told you’re probably fighting COVID‑19, and then you realize the local hospital is a thriller‑style queue: people are stacked more than a delivery truck. The result? You wander home like a ghost scene in a movie.
Meet the Anonymous Hero
A coronavirus patient, who chose to remain nameless amid the stigma that still shadows those infected in Jakarta, shared how she turned to Halodoc for help. “I had no choice but to go home because the hospital was overloaded with people,” she said. Instead of waiting around in a crowded ward, she booked an online consultation through the app.
What she received: a recipe for the antibiotic azithromycin and a dose of the malaria drug hyloquin. The entire prescription journey was delivered straight to her doorstep by Halodoc’s partner pharmacies.
What Halodoc is All About
- Before the pandemic, they boasted 12 million monthly users.
- They partner with local pharmacies, labs, and the ride‑hailer Gojek for medicine delivery.
- Now, Gojek is also offering free drive‑through rapid COVID‑19 testing to Jakarta residents—only if you’re referred from a teleconsultation.
Inside the Halodoc-Driven Care Model
CEO Jonathan Sudharta mentioned having six mild‑symptom COVID‑19 patients who completed their entire treatment through the app. “It’s working,” he said. The platform’s appeal isn’t just local—it’s making waves in nearby countries too.
- Halodoc launched a localized coronavirus info site for the Philippines.
- It’s already fielding consultation requests from Thailand.
Doctoring Through Distance
Dr. Sundawa weighed in: “Telehealth might be the answer in regions short on doctors… but don’t forget folks who have no internet.” The call is clear—link technology where it can reach.
Want the freshest updates on the pandemic? Keep your eyes (and your phone) on this arena.
