Harnessing AI for better healthcare and decent work in Indonesia

JAKARTA (ILO News) - As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforms health systems around the world, policymakers, health professionals, workers' and employers' representatives, academics and development partners gathered today (24/6) for a policy dialogue titled "Intersectionality in Action: A Deep Dive with Policymakers & Practitioners on AI, Health Workforce, and Serving Vulnerable Indonesian Workers."

Organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the dialogue examined how AI is reshaping Indonesia's health workforce and healthcare industry, while exploring practical measures to ensure that technological innovation supports decent work, quality healthcare services, and equitable outcomes for vulnerable populations.

The Ministry of Health is currently developing a policy framework for the use of AI in the health sector, in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including doctors, academics, and healthcare practitioners.

Eko Sulistijo, Head of the Ministry of Health's Data and Technology Centre

From diagnostic tools and disease surveillance to workforce planning and administrative automation, AI is increasingly influencing how healthcare services are delivered and managed. While these technologies offer significant opportunities to improve productivity, enhance occupational safety and health, and expand access to healthcare, they also raise important questions about the future of work in the sector.

A keynote address from Indonesia's Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, delivered by Eko Sulistijo, Head of the Ministry of Health's Data and Technology Centre. 6/2026

The forum, the sixth in a series of discussions convened by the ILO on AI and the world of work, featured a keynote address from Indonesia's Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, delivered by Eko Sulistijo, Head of the Ministry of Health's Data and Technology Centre. In his remarks, the Minister underscored the potential of AI to strengthen Indonesia's health system and expand access to quality healthcare services, particularly for communities in underserved and remote areas.

"As we advance our health transformation agenda, it is essential that technology complements and promotes equity in healthcare services," said Minister Budi. "The Ministry of Health is currently developing a policy framework for the use of AI in the health sector, in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including doctors, academics, and healthcare practitioners."

The challenge for policymakers, employers and workers is to ensure that AI is deployed in ways that improve healthcare outcomes, strengthen working conditions and expand equitable access to quality healthcare services.

Simrin Singh, ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste

Janine Berg, Senior Researcher in the ILO Research Department in Geneva, presented the opportunities and challenges associated with AI in healthcare. She also shared findings from an ILO study examining the impact of large language models (LLMs) on physicians' clinical reasoning in Indonesia, Kenya and the Netherlands.

"Our findings suggest that AI can strengthen healthcare delivery and support clinical decision-making without replacing healthcare workers," said Berg. "However, successful adoption requires appropriate training, rigorous validation, safeguards against errors and the active involvement of healthcare professionals in the governance and implementation of AI systems.

The discussion comes at a critical moment as Indonesia advances an ambitious health transformation agenda focused on strengthening primary healthcare, referral services, health resilience, financing, human resources for health and health technology. At the same time, the country continues to face challenges related to shortages and unequal distribution of health workers, growing demand for healthcare services driven by demographic changes and population ageing, and persistent disparities in access to quality healthcare between urban and rural areas.

The forum, the sixth in a series of discussions, examined how AI is reshaping Indonesia's health workforce and healthcare industry. 6/2026

Simrin Singh, ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, emphasized that the future impact of AI on healthcare will depend on how it is governed and implemented. "AI should be seen as a tool to support, not replace, healthcare workers," Simrin said. "The challenge for policymakers, employers and workers is to ensure that AI is deployed in ways that improve healthcare outcomes, strengthen working conditions and expand equitable access to quality healthcare services."

To explore these opportunities and challenges, the forum brought together a diverse panel of practitioners working at the forefront of healthcare delivery. Panellists included dr. Laili Fathiyah, MPH, FISQua, Director of Pelni Hospital; Dr. Naurah Zainar Aufaria, Sp.OK, an occupational health practitioner working in the palm oil sector in Papua and West Kalimantan; dr. Adiwan Qodar, MM., CHRPF., CT, Assistant Deputy for Healthcare Facility Partnerships at BPJS Kesehatan; and dr. Muhammad Dzaky Darmawan, Vice President for Internal Affairs at CIMSA Indonesia.

The panellists discussed how AI can support healthcare workers, improve resource allocation, strengthen accountability and efficiency in health claims management, and expand healthcare services to remote and underserved communities, while emphasizing the need to address emerging risks such as algorithmic bias, data privacy and protection, unequal access to technology, and potential impacts on working conditions, particularly for vulnerable workers and communities facing greater barriers to healthcare and digital inclusion.

The session further benefited from commentaries representing workers' and employers' perspectives. Afif Johan, Member of the BPJS Health Supervisory Board, highlighted the importance of workforce preparedness, patient protection and equitable access to healthcare in the age of AI. Doddy Darmawan, APINDO's Digital Health Committee, underscored the role of innovation, digital infrastructure and skills development in ensuring that AI adoption contributes to both business sustainability and improved healthcare outcomes.

Bringing together more than 100 participants from diverse stakeholder groups, the forum sought to ensure that the benefits of AI contribute not only to stronger health systems, but also to decent work, safer workplaces and improved healthcare access for all Indonesians, especially those most vulnerable.

The AI forum is being live-streamed on ILO TV Indonesia.

For further information, please contact:
Abdul Hakim
ILO's Programme Officer
Email: [email protected]

Gita Lingga
ILO Senior Information and Communications Management Assistant
Email: [email protected]