"We are discussing with other ministries how to utilize PeduliLindungi during the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, whether it could be repurposed for subsidy disbursement from the government to the people or for other purposes," Wirjoatmodjo stated during the SOE International Conference on Monday.
The deputy minister revealed that the contact-tracing application had been downloaded by 95 million people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The PeduliLindungi application has helped to educate users that they need not go outside to visit the doctor and obtain their medicine, as they could access those services through online platforms, he remarked.
"In the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of people had fallen ill and were diagnosed with COVID-19, and they could access medical examination through telemedicine services and have their medicines delivered directly to their homes," the deputy minister remarked.
Moreover, the government had implemented digitization in the financial sector, such as in the banking system, to reduce the need for face-to-face contact to access financial services, the official noted.
He highlighted that until shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, up to 90 percent of transactions conducted by state-owned Bank Mandiri's 35 million clients nationwide were face-to-face.
"We need to constantly educate them to adopt their online facilities to help them, (for instance), manage their debts and apply for new loans through the online platform," Wirjoatmodjo stated.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, residents are accustomed to accessing digital platforms for their various needs, including healthcare and financial services, he added.
"For instance, residents in villages have been accustomed to conducting their financial transactions through online means," he remarked.
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Translator: Sanya Dinda S, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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