President orders telemedicine drugs' delivery within hours: KSP

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) instructed the Presidential Staff Office's (KSP's) officials to have telemedicine drugs delivered at the earliest or within a matter of hours, KSP's main expert staff Abraham Wirotomo stated.

President Jokowi's order came about as a response to a report from people concerning the tardiness of telemedicine drugs' delivery.

"The president has ordered to examine the cause behind this and to ensure that the medicine could arrive in a matter of hours," he noted in a press statement on Wednesday.

During the Public Activity Restriction (PPKM) evaluation meeting on Monday, the KSP reported to have received complaints from citizens, who had contracted the Omicron variant of COVID-19, concerning drugs delivered by telemedicine service that arrived too late.

This report was delivered by KSP's Head Moeldoko to President Joko Widodo.

Wirotomo noted that during every cabinet meeting on PPKM evaluation, the president had always ensured, in detail, that the government's efforts in saving people's lives from the pandemic proceeded well.

"In addition to health, the president is highly focused on economy, education, and security," he stated.

"The point is the president always expects that services to the people should be considered," he remarked.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health had provided telemedicine service for self-isolating patients confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, including the Omicron variant.

Patients can receive online consultation and medicine package free of charge through the service.

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In order to receive the free telemedicine services, patients should take the PCR test first in a laboratory affiliated with the New All Record (NAR) system belonging to the ministry.

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According to the COVID-19 Handling Task Force's national spokesperson, Wiku Adisasmito, partnership with the telemedicine platform was conducted to bolster accessibility to identify positive cases through quality health services.