Jakarta, INTI – In Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Thursday, May 8, 2025 NTT Governor Melki Laka Lena officially launched the pilot expansion of telemedicine services, a collaborative move between the provincial government and BPJS Kesehatan. Telemedicine is considered a strategic solution to address the challenges of accessing health services in an archipelago like NTT, which has many remote areas with limited infrastructure, medical equipment, and health workers.
An Innovative Solution for the Islands Region
In his speech, Governor Melki emphasized that telemedicine is not only a technological innovation, but also an important breakthrough in improving the quality and equity of health services. By utilizing digital communication technology, people in remote villages who have had difficult to reach health facilities now have the opportunity to get faster and more effective medical services.
Addressing Medical Challenges in Remote Areas
Governor Melki revealed that while visiting various districts in NTT, he saw firsthand how access to health services is still a big challenge, especially for people living in mountainous areas, valleys, or small islands. Obstacles such as long distances, limited infrastructure, and lack of medical personnel make health services uneven.
Digital Infrastructure Support Needed
To support the success of this telemedicine program, the Governor of NTT emphasized the importance of equitable internet access to remote villages. He stated that he has established intensive communication with the Ministry of Communication and Digital of the Republic of Indonesia to ensure that remote areas in NTT can be digitally connected.
Provincial Government Commitment
Governor Melki is committed to pushing NTT to no longer fall behind in terms of digital connectivity. He emphasized that every citizen, including those living in the most remote areas, should be able to enjoy efficient, affordable and quality digital-based health services.
Conclusion
The launch of the expansion of telemedicine trials in East Nusa Tenggara is a real step in delivering health services that are more equitable and adaptive to the geographical conditions of the archipelago. With the support of adequate digital infrastructure and local government commitment, telemedicine is expected to be able to answer the gap in access to health services, while bringing positive changes to the future of the health system in the region
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