Tangerang, Banten (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that digital transformation in the health technology services industry is needed amid the bonus demographic momentum.

"Biomedical health is very important. The government has also carried out reform in the health sector through Special Economic Zones (KEK), such as a health clinic in Sanur, Bali, for health research and health treatment, and is expected to become one integrated zone in the future," he remarked at the Biomedical Campus Launching at the Biomedical Hub Building in Tangerang on Saturday (December 2).

According to him, the development of the health care industry is important, considering that the country is experiencing demographic momentum until 2038. Therefore, a young and productive generation is needed, which can be achieved through proper education and the health sector.

Hartarto added that Indonesia has joined various international forums and is currently applying to become a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Including its standards in the health sector is one of the requirements for joining the organization.

One of the government's policies to improve the health sector is through the establishment of the Health Law, which outlines the health transformation agenda to improve services, he informed.

While in the education sector, the minister noted that the government is inviting various global universities to open in Indonesia, including King's College London in KEK Singhasari.

The provision of educational facilities, accompanied by several facilities from the government, is expected to be accessible to various levels of society, he said.

"Reform in the health sector is important. We are also developing several KEKs for the health sector, supported by Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin. Do not let our people seek health treatment in other countries. The government must be able to provide proper health services at affordable prices," he emphasized.

Hartarto noted that digital transformation is important to accelerate recovery and increase economic resilience. In 2023, Indonesia's digital economy will dominate up to 40 percent of the total value of digital economic transactions in the ASEAN market.

Moreover, the minister remarked that the digital economy will be encouraged by Indonesia in its 2023 ASEAN chairmanship through the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) initiation.

Efforts to encourage digital transformation carried out by the government have also targeted various sectors, namely the health service industry, which currently utilizes digital technology.

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Translator: Bayu Saputra, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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