<![CDATA[Background: Telemedicine is promoted as a solution to improve access to healthcare in areas with geographical barriers. In South Kalimantan, wetland areas face limited physical access due to scattered settlements, water-based transportation, and seasonal flooding, as well as limited digital infrastructure.Objective: This study aims to explore the conditions of access to health services, digital readiness, digital literacy, as well as people's initial experiences and perceptions of telemedicine in the wetlands of South Kalimantan.Methods: A descriptive–exploratory preliminary survey was conducted on 50 purposively selected adult respondents. Data were collected through an interview-based structured questionnaire and analyzed descriptively without hypothesis testing.Results: The majority of respondents face significant physical barriers to access with long travel times and reliance on water transportation. Smartphone ownership is relatively high, but signal quality, electrical stability, and digital literacy are still low. The use of telemedicine is still limited and dominated by chat services. The perception of benefits is quite positive, but technical barriers and face-to-face service preferences remain strong.Conclusion: Telemedicine has high potential in wetland areas, but implementation readiness is still low. A phased approach is needed that emphasizes low-bandwidth modalities, strengthening digital literacy, and improving systemic infrastructure.]]>
