we are planning to expand telemedicine service coverage sooner only to Java-Bali regions till Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi regions

Jakarta (ANTARA) – An official from the Ministry of Health has confirmed that the ministry will expand the coverage of free COVID-19 telemedicine services for self-isolating patients outside the Java-Bali regions from Saturday, February 19.

“Considering that the number of active cases has increased in more regions, we plan to extend the coverage of the telemedicine service sooner only to the regions of Java-Bali up to the regions of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi,” said the head of the ministry’s digital department. noted the Setiaji transformation office during a virtual press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The head of the office revealed that the expansion of service coverage will start in Medan and Palembang in Sumatra; Balikpapan and Banjarmasin in Kalimantan; and Manado and Makassar in Sulawesi.

He said he was optimistic that expanding coverage of COVID-19 telemedicine services would allow more self-isolating residents to access medical assistance from health experts.

The ministry has cooperated with 17 telemedicine app developers to provide free medical consultation services to COVID-19 patients with mild or asymptomatic symptoms who are self-isolating at home, he said. added.

Setiaji noted that proof of positive COVID-19 diagnosis registered in the ministry’s New All Record (NAR) system is required to access the free telemedicine service.

Apart from providing free health consultations, medical experts can also prescribe free medicine packages which would be delivered by free shipping services directly to patients’ homes, he said.

The medicine packages are divided into two types, the official noted, adding that the type A medicine contains 10 tablets each of multivitamins C, B, E and zinc; while the type B drug contains all the drugs prescribed in the type A package plus additional tablets of favipiravir, molnupiravir and paracetamol.

Residents can also purchase their own medications and multivitamins if needed to speed up their recovery, although the government does not cover medication costs, he confirmed.

Related News: Some 364,850 COVID-19 patients have accessed telemedicine services
Related news: Effective village telemedicine innovations to manage COVID-19: KSP
Related news: Government to create adaptive legal basis for telemedicine sector: KSP