Jakarta, INTI - The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare sector is considered capable of accelerating patient care services. The technology also has the potential to evaluate the quality of care provided by healthcare professionals by processing data stored in Electronic Medical Records (EMR).
Eko Sulistijo, Head of the Center for Data and Information Technology (Pusdatin) at the Ministry of Health, stated that every clinical action performed by health workers leaves a data trail within the EMR. This data encompasses the patient's health condition and history, information regarding the attending health workers, the diagnosis provided, and the medications prescribed.
According to Eko, this body of information can serve as a basis for assessing the appropriateness of the care provided to patients.
"Every patient EMR record we receive contains more than just clinical data. It includes information on the attending doctor, the diagnosis, and the medication prescribed," Eko said during a media briefing for the Philips Future Health Index 2026 Indonesia Report in Jakarta on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
As the quality and completeness of health data improve, Eko sees opportunities to leverage AI for analysis. He also sees that the technology has the potential to provide insights into the quality of physicians practicing at healthcare facilities.
AI Usage Depends on Data Quality
However, Eko emphasized that the effectiveness of AI relies heavily on the quality of the data serving as the basis for analysis. AI cannot function optimally if the data is not well-organized, complete, and properly integrated.
Ministry of Health continues to promote the strengthening and integration of health data from various healthcare facilities across Indonesia. Data from hospitals, community health centers (Puskesmas), clinics, laboratories, and independent practices are being gradually connected to the national digital health ecosystem.
Eko said that approximately 95% of hospitals are connected and transmitting data to the Ministry of Health. The connectivity rate for Puskesmas has reached approximately 92%, while clinics stand at around 60%, health laboratories at 44%, and independent practice facilities at about 20%.
The collected data can be utilized not only to support patient care but also to assist health facilities and the government in formulating policies. One implementation is through the SatuSehat Mobile app, which allows the public to access their EMR data from various health facilities.
For healthcare workers, the availability of this data assists them when patients transfer between facilities or require referral services. Stored medical histories provide doctors with supporting information, eliminating the need to repeat the entire examination process from the beginning.
Conclusion
The Ministry of Health sees the potential for AI to analyze Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and assist in evaluating the care provided by healthcare workers. Eko Sulistijo stated that the effective use of AI relies heavily on the quality and completeness of the underlying health data. Ministry of Health believes that opportunities for AI development within Indonesia's health system will expand. However, its implementation must proceed alongside improvements in the quality, integration, and security of public health data.
Read more: Taiwanese Companies Eye Indonesia as a Promising Market for AI-Powered Healthcare Technology