COVID-19 Pandemic: Opportunity to Accelerate e-Health in Indonesia

Nyoman Sutarsa (Department of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Indonesia)
Putu Ayu Swandewi Astuti (Department of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Indonesia)
Melinda Choy (Department of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Indonesia)
Malcolm Moore (Nyoman Sutarsa Department of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Indonesia)

Public Health and Preventive Medicine Archive
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2020)

The COVID-19 pandemic has catalysed the transformation of health care provision across the globe, including Indonesia. However, adopting and implementing e-health technologies in health care system has to be done gradually with careful planning and assessment to minimise negative consequences and to ensure equity. Strategies are required to address availability of basic infrastructure, broadband internet access, health system preparedness and acceptability from the community and health professionals. Promoting e-health also means transforming the overall landscape of health systems and the societal culture around health-seeking behaviour. It will not happen overnight, it takes time and substantial investment; but the process has to start now to leverage the ‘magic’ momentum presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.