Indonesia prepares healthcare AI testing to protect patients
The Health Sandbox programme has tested 60 health technology innovations since 2023, with 39 passing evaluation, according to the deputy health minister.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Health is preparing a testing ecosystem for artificial intelligence through its Health Sandbox programme, aiming to reduce risks to patients and help medical professionals. Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono said innovation needed safeguards as digital technology became more widely used in healthcare.
Speaking in Jakarta, Dante warned that weak protection of data could expose personal information to misuse, while algorithmic bias could deepen inequalities in access to care. He said new technologies needed to be effective and reliable, as well as safe for patients and useful to healthcare workers.
Since 2023, the programme has evaluated 60 health technology innovations, of which 39 passed, Dante said. It has grown from a single cluster into three schemes: the Innovation Sandbox, Industrial Sandbox and Regulatory Sandbox. He said these were intended to support innovation and encourage the use of technologies in healthcare services.
Dante cited AI applications including tuberculosis diagnosis from X-ray images, cancer identification using pathology slides and detection of retinal disorders among diabetic patients. The ministry is continuing to seek solutions from innovators for services ranging from primary care to referral hospitals.
