Utilization of Healthtech Startups as Telemedicine Services

The use of telemedicine startup services in Indonesia is growing, in line with the needs of the community in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic situation. Some time ago, the Government of Indonesia made an Emergency PPKM (Enforcement of Restrictions on Community Activities) regulation which will be implemented for 2 weeks from 3 to 20 July, in order to reduce exposure to the corona virus.

Telemedicine startup itself is a start-up company that has information and medical services online courses which enables healthcare professionals to provide these services remotely. The goal is to help people who are infected and require self-isolation, people can still get health services without having to queue at the hospital.

The Indonesian telemedicine startup is here as an effort to prevent and deal with Covid-19. The benefits of startups in this field provide several services ranging from providing information as an educational effort to consulting. Another benefit is that the community can minimize visits to health facilities so that self-isolation or physical distancing can be more effective.

Based on CB Insights global research, startups in the health sector or telemedicine are the most promising startups. How come? The use of telemedicine services will always be used in the future, even after the pandemic has passed. Examples of telemedicine startups in Indonesia include Alodokter, Getwell, Gooddoctor, Halodoc, Klikdokter, and so on.

Indonesian Healthtech Startups

Discussing telemedicine cannot be separated from healthtech startups, which are start-ups in the health technology sector that are growing and developing by utilizing advances in digital technology. With the presence of a healthtech startup, patients can consult directly with doctors regarding their health conditions. Moreover, the Covid-19 outbreak that has attacked in the past year has made healthtech startups appear which of course will experience a spike in terms of business and user growth.

The momentum of this pandemic has been used by healthtech startups to introduce their products to the public. According to Statista data, the healthcare market will be worth US$600 billion by 2025. In addition, investor funding in the digital health industry has increased significantly. In 2020, the report found more than US$21 billion was invested in the healthcare technology industry.

In overcoming current conditions, healthtech startups and the Indonesian Ministry of Health have collaborated in providing health services for the community so that during the self-isolation period, patients can still access and consult their health which can be accessed anywhere, anytime, and by anyone. .

The Ministry of Health has agreed to work with 11 Indonesian healthtech startups to provide telemedicine services. Among them Alodokter, Getwell, Gooddoctor, Halodoc, Klikdokter, Klinikgo, Linksehat, Milvikdokter, Prosat, Sehatq, and Yesdok. The collaboration includes doctor consultation and free drug delivery.

For Indonesian people who have been confirmed to be exposed to Covid-19, they will be given free digital (electronic)-based medicine packages, both for those without symptoms or for those who have symptoms such as fever.

Telemedicine App

To find out which telemedicine applications are available in Indonesia along with their services, here are some telemedicine applications that you should know, including:

•   Halodoc

Halodoc is a telemedicine application that was founded in 2016 in Jakarta by Jonathan Sudharta. Halodoc offers complete health solutions, starting from chatting with doctors, hospital visits, buying drugs, lab checks, and updatesinformation about health. Halodoc also offers several services for Covid-19 as a form of concern for the community, such as tests, doctor consultations, drug orders, Covid-19 information, self-checks, vaccine-ready checks, covid-19 vaccinations, and post-vaccine checks.

•   HealthReplies.com

HealthReplies.com was founded by Nathanael Faibis since 2014 as a health service provider in Indonesia in providing medical information that is considered easy to understand, accurate, and accessible to anyone. HealthReplies.com provides several features such as Chat with Doctors, Find Doctors, Protect Alodokter, and Alodokter Shop. Some of these features can also be used as an effort to deal with Covid-19.

•   Clickdoctor

Clickdoctor is a communication, information, and health education portal site created for the medical community and the public that was founded in 2008. Clickdoctor organized and run by a medical editorial team consisting of competent doctors. Available services such as live chat, various information about diseases and healthy ways, ask doctors, and others.

•   Getwell

GetWell developed by PT Telemedika Teknologi Indonesia and one of the telemedicine applications that are partners with the government in handling Covid-19. Moving for the health care ecosystem, Getwell provides several services including SWAB services for Covid-19, home care, doctor consultations, and health articles.

•   HealthyQ

HealthyQ is a telemedicine application with complete features to support healthy families. All health information with credible references is available in this application. Features in HealthyQ app such as online doctor chat for free, direct and private, online booking of doctor consultation schedules according to needs, health information ranging from health articles, disease definitions, functions and side effects of drugs, to shopping for health needs available at HealthyQ.

With the telemedicine application, it will make it easier for medical services from a distance. Especially in a pandemic situation like today, telemedicine applicationsthis is very useful in minimizing visits to health facilities so that quarantine or isolation becomes more effective.

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Disclosure: This article was written by Muhamad Dika Wahyudi.