Innovation in Health for Society
Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026): January - June

Challenges and opportunities in implementing telemedicine within the primary healthcare system in Indonesia: A review

Syukran Syukran (Teungku Fakinah Hospital Banda Aceh, Indonesia)
Saddam Rassanjani (Department of Government Studies, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
06 Jun 2026

Abstract

The utilization of telemedicine, or remote consultation, has emerged as a pivotal innovation in enhancing primary healthcare, a shift significantly accelerated by the pandemic's push toward digital health adoption. In Indonesia, integrating telemedicine into public health governance remains essential, particularly within public health centers (Puskesmas) and under the national health insurance (Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional [JKN]) scheme. This article examines the challenges and opportunities of implementing telemedicine within Indonesia’s primary healthcare ecosystem, focusing on policy design, regulatory frameworks, and administrative hurdles. Employing a qualitative narrative literature review approach, this study synthesized a total of 26 articles. The selected sources were evaluated using thematic and descriptive analysis to identify core implementation themes. The findings suggest that while telemedicine enhances healthcare access, administrative efficiency, and citizen engagement, critical governance challenges—such as digital inequality, data privacy concerns, and a lack of standardized implementation guidelines—persist. Government regulatory efforts during the pandemic only partially addressed these issues, meaning that long-term integration will heavily depend on strengthened institutional coordination and consistent policy frameworks. Ultimately, this research contributes to the broader discourse on public sector innovation and health governance by offering actionable policy recommendations to support the equitable and effective adoption of telemedicine across Indonesia Keywords: Healthcare policy, Indonesia, JKN, primary healthcare, public service

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

ihs

Publisher

Subject

Medicine & Pharmacology Nursing Public Health

Description

Aims Innovation in Health for Society is an open access, peer review, International Journal for healthcare practitioner who cares and gives health services in hospitals or community settings. The journal is aimed at providing current knowledge in innovation focusing on health care. The meaning of ...