Member of Commission VI DPR RI Andre Rosiade appreciated the presence of long-distance health services (telemedicine) for the community amid the surge in Covid-19 cases. According to him, the use of telemedicine is a solution to meet the needs of the community to continue to seek treatment and check themselves during the current pandemic.
“We at Commission VI appreciate the presence of these telemedicine companies in order to help the community get online health services,” said Andre in a Public Hearing Meeting (RDPU) with a number of stakeholders of Indonesian telemedicine services, in the Commission VI Meeting Room of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Nusantara Building. I, Senayan, Jakarta on Wednesday (February 7, 2022).
The meeting discussed the readiness of telemedicine services to face the threat of an increase in the COVID-19 Variant Omicron. Present at the meeting were Director of PT Alodokter Teknologi Solusi, Managing Director of PT Good Dokter Teknologi Indonesia, Chief Executive Officer of PT Media Dokter Investama, Chief Executive Officer of PT Media Komunika Teknologi and Director of PT Sehat Harsana Emedika.
Andre said that many people needed health services but were disrupted due to the limitations of hospitals due to the surge in Covid-19 patients. “This telemedicine service makes it easy for people to get health services,” said the Gerindra Party politician.
Andre admits that the use of telemedicine technology can make it easier for patients. However, he also questioned the effectiveness of doctors in diagnosing the diseases that patients complained about. Remember, patients and doctors discuss through applications or websites without meeting face to face. “We also provide some input on how to minimize misdiagnosis, because communication is via chat, there is no virtual communication such as zoom, that is also our question,” he continued.
Regarding the availability of drugs, Andre asked for the support of Pharmaceutical SOEs to ensure the availability of adequate medicines, especially for Covid-19 patients who are self-isolating. “Regarding complaints of rare drugs, we ask all telemedicine to ensure the availability of doctor and drug services 24 hours 7 days a week,” concluded Andre.
Meanwhile, Member of Commission VI DPR RI Daeng Muhammad hopes that information on telemedicine services can be socialized and disseminated, so that telemedicine services can be utilized by all levels of society. According to him, not all elements of society understand the concept of telemedicine.
“I really believe that, because I was born in a rural area and when I ask friends in the countryside, it’s almost impossible for anyone to use this application. Maybe, suggestions to telemedicine friends are intensified outreach to the public, so that even lower-class people understand this,” said the PAN politician.
Daeng added that the use of digital technology such as mobile phones and the internet is common in rural communities. It just needs further introduction about remote health services. “My hope is that in the future, this can be used by our society, and society is more modern, so that this pandemic will bring a transformation in the way of thinking of our society,” he said.
