We continue to expand our telemedicine service to help people, who are self-isolating
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Health has provided a standby channel, or hotline, for people undergoing self-isolation due to COVID-19 but had yet to access free telemedicine services from the government.

Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control of the Health Ministry Siti Nadia Tarmizi stated on Saturday that the government's free telemedicine service can be accessed by people, who had tested positive for COVID-19 based on the antigen or RT-PCR test at laboratories affiliated with the Health Ministry.

Initially, the service was specifically for people aged 18 years and above and residing in Greater Jakarta, Karawang, Bandung, Greater Semarang, Greater Surakarta, Yogyakarta City, Greater Surabaya, Greater Malang, Denpasar City, and Nusa Dua.

"In the second week of February, this service was extended to big cities in Java-Bali," Tarmizi noted.

Starting from February 19, the Health Ministry will expand telemedicine services to big cities in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi, she confirmed.

"We continue to expand our telemedicine service to help people, who are self-isolating. With our medicine package delivered to them, hopefully, they do not need to be hospitalized," she remarked.

People, tested positive for COVID-19, who consult with doctors through the government's telemedicine service can also receive free medicine packages delivered to them.

"We continue to improve telemedicine services, so that the medicine packages can reach patients more quickly," Tarmizi stated.

Telemedicine service users, who do not receive messages on the WhatsApp messenger from the Ministry of Health, can confirm by visiting isoman.kemkes.go.id/panduan and entering their identity number (NIK) to proceed to the next submission stage.

Until February 14, 2022, a total of 158,075 asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients had been using the Ministry of Health's telemedicine facilities in the Java and Bali regions. Some 136,028 of them had received free consultation services and electronic prescriptions.

According to the government's data, as many as 129,100 prescribed medicines have been delivered to patients' homes and 85 percent of the patients had received medicine packages the day after ordering.

People, who tested positive for COVID-19 and in need of health consultation services, can contact the Ministry of Health's WhatsApp number at 081110500567, service center 119 ext. 9, or contact their email address certificate@pedulilindungi.id.

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Translator: Prisca Triferna V, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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