Gov’t Speeds up Internet Access at Healthcare Facilities for COVID-19 Handling

Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital for COVID-19 Handling, Kemayoran, Jakarta (Photo by: BPMI-Setpres)

The Government has renewed its commitment to speed up internet access at healthcare facilities across the country in charge of tackling COVID-19 cases.

According to Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny G. Plate, the move aims to expand and improve the quality of telecommunication infrastructure in the health sector in support of handling COVID-19 and the National Economic Recovery (PEN) program.

“Internet access service will cover hospitals and community health centers which do not have internet access yet or those with poor quality,” he said in a release received by www.setkab.goid.,Wednesday (14/10).

The program, the Minister continued, covers three main agenda, namely optimization of telecommunications between and intra health facilities, quality improvement of data flow of health facilities, and adoption of digital-based health applications, particularly in frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged (3T) areas.

Citing data from Ministry of Health, the Minister revealed that as of 31 December 2019, there were 2,877 hospitals and 10,134 health centers spread across the country.

Out of those 13,011 health facilities, the Ministry’s Telecommunication and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI) has identified 3,126 health facilities that still need to have their internet service optimized.

“BAKTI provided internet access to 226 out of 3,126 healthcare facilities last year. This year, BAKTI, in cooperation with the Committee for COVID-19 Handling and the National Economic Recovery, is set to speed up internet services at 2,192 health facilities,” he said.

As for the remaining 708 health facilities, internet access will be provided in the first quarter of next year, the Minister said, adding that internet access is also expected to support public health programs in the long term.

For the record, the public health programs include reducing maternal and infant mortality, preventing stunting, supporting the Healthy Indonesia program through a Family Approach, and improving health services through telemedicine as well as supporting the Government’s agenda in the Acceleration of National Digital Transformation in accordance with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s directives. (KOMINFO PR / UN)

Translator: Muhardi
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas