Indonesia's healthcare landscape: embracing innovation in the new health regime

Curr Med Res Opin. 2024 May 6:1-5. doi: 10.1080/03007995.2024.2349732. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

The comment highlights the intricate health issues in Indonesia, emphasizing urban-rural gaps, healthcare financing challenges, and the government's dedication to Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The country's geographical layout amplifies the struggle of providing healthcare to rural areas, resulting in substantial health concerns like high tuberculosis rates and financial vulnerability for the impoverished. The concern raised underscores the paradox of low state healthcare spending despite high household expenditures, leading to individual payment reliance and underutilization of insurance. The analysis advocates a comprehensive healthcare approach, emphasizing prevention and curative actions. It also stresses the importance of decentralizing decision-making power to local governments for optimizing healthcare funds. The comment concludes by emphasizing the need for innovative solutions in Indonesia's healthcare landscape. It envisions a future where transformative approaches reshape the system, ensuring better health outcomes. Innovation, especially in medical technology, digital health, and healthcare delivery models, is identified as a central theme. The recommendation underscores the importance of creative solutions to address healthcare service limitations and advocates for leveraging advancements in preventive measures, education, and tackling lifestyle issues. The overall aim is to navigate Indonesia through its current healthcare challenges towards a more sustainable and effective system for the benefit of its population.

Keywords: Indonesia; Universal Health Coverage; health financing; healthcare landscape; innovation.