Jakarta, INTI - Indonesia’s Ministry of Health is accelerating healthcare transformation by developing robotic surgery technology as part of its health technology transformation agenda.
Beyond preparing the procurement of 40 robotic surgery systems for government hospitals, the Ministry is also building an artificial intelligence (AI) healthcare ecosystem, expanding medical training programs, and promoting technology transfer to strengthen the independence of Indonesia’s medical device industry.
The commitment was highlighted by Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin during the milestone celebration of nearly 1,000 robotic surgery procedures at Bunda Hospital Jakarta, alongside the launch of a strategic collaboration between the Ministry of Health, Bunda Hospital, and Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).
According to the Minister, robotics is one of three priority healthcare technologies being developed by the Ministry, alongside AI and biotechnology.
“Robotics is a global trend. This technology improves patient care quality through greater surgical precision, reduced pain, and shorter recovery periods. The government’s role is to ensure these services become more accessible, affordable, and widely available,” Budi said.
Building a National Robotic Surgery Ecosystem
Budi explained that Indonesia’s adoption of robotic surgery remains behind several countries, including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Therefore, the government is taking strategic measures to accelerate implementation through national policies.
One of these initiatives is the establishment of the Ministry of Health Robotic Committee, which will develop a roadmap for robotic technology adoption, covering technology requirements, healthcare service standards, and strategies to make robotic surgery more cost-efficient.
The Ministry is also evaluating financing mechanisms through BPJS Kesehatan to integrate robotic surgery procedures into the national healthcare financing system, allowing more Indonesians to access advanced medical services.
As a foundation for broader robotic surgery adoption, the Ministry is strengthening minimally invasive surgery capabilities through a national laparoscopic surgery training program for surgeons across 514 districts and cities.
“We want more Indonesian doctors to have expertise in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. These capabilities should not be limited to certain groups or only available in major cities,” Budi said.
AI Integration and Medical Technology Innovation
Budi emphasized that robotic technology development is not only aimed at improving healthcare quality but also serves as a foundation for advancing Indonesia’s healthcare AI ecosystem.
Indonesia is currently developing three interconnected national databases: population data, clinical data, and genomic data. In the future, robotic surgery data will also be integrated nationally to support the development of AI systems that assist doctors in improving surgical decision-making.
“AI will not replace doctors, but will serve as augmented intelligence that helps doctors make decisions based on learning from thousands or even millions of clinical data points,” he explained.
The Ministry plans to require technology transfer as part of robotic surgery procurement, particularly for the domestic production of consumable components. This policy is expected to reduce robotic surgery costs while strengthening Indonesia’s medical device industry.
Additionally, robotic surgery training centers will be expanded across Indonesia to ensure that medical education and expertise are not concentrated in only certain regions or institutions.
Strengthening Collaboration Between Government, Academia, and Industry
ITB Rector Prof. Tatacipta Dirgantara said Indonesia has strong research capabilities in biomedical engineering, biomechanics, robotics, and AI. However, successful healthcare innovation requires close collaboration between researchers and medical professionals.
“Support from the Ministry of Health is crucial to enable researchers and doctors to jointly develop healthcare technologies that meet Indonesia’s needs. Through this collaboration, we are optimistic that Indonesia can produce globally competitive medical device innovations,” he said.
President Commissioner of PT Bundamedik Tbk, Dr. Ivan Rizal Sini, stated that achieving nearly 1,000 robotic surgery procedures reflects more than a decade of commitment to developing minimally invasive surgical services in Indonesia.
He added that Bunda Hospital is ready to support government programs through training center development, knowledge sharing, and expanding robotic surgery expertise among doctors across regions.
Conclusion
Through collaboration between government institutions, universities, hospitals, and industry, Indonesia aims to become a regional hub for robotic surgery technology while strengthening its domestic healthcare innovation ecosystem. The initiative is expected to improve healthcare quality, expand access to advanced medical services, and support the growth of Indonesia’s medical device industry.
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