Ministry Of Health Improves Telemedicine Services For Isoman Patients

ILLUSTRA TION BY VOI

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health has increased telemedicine services following the increasing number of COVID-19 patients being treated in isolation (isoman) at home.

"For drug packages for isoman patients, currently 95 percent of us can deliver drugs to patients' homes within 1 x 24 hours, and have accelerated drug procurement in collaboration with Kimia Farma," said Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health Abdul Kadir in a written statement quoted by Antara. , Thursday, February 10.

According to him, the addition of COVID-19 patients being treated in hospitals continues to be under control and today at 16.30 WIB, there was an increase of only 1.7 percent to 28 percent compared to yesterday's 26.3 percent.

Although the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreads faster than the Delta variant, said Abdul Kadir, the symptoms caused by Omicron are not as severe as those of the Delta.

However, the public must remain vigilant because it can be dangerous for certain groups such as the elderly, children, people with comorbidities, and people who have not been vaccinated.

"This massive vaccination helps us not to have severe symptoms when infected with the COVID-19 virus," he said.

Meanwhile, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Secretary to the Director General of Public Health Siti Nadia Tarmizi appealed to the public to remain calm, but remain vigilant in responding to the increase in cases this time.

"Although cases are increasing rapidly because the virus spreads faster than Delta, Omicron's symptoms are not as severe as the Delta variant with most patients being asymptomatic (OTG) and having mild symptoms," he said.

In addition, the number of bed occupancy and COVID-19 isolation in hospitals is still very much under control compared to last year, said Nadia.

For people who have mild or asymptomatic symptoms, Nadia said, it is advisable to self-isolate at home or in centralized isolation that has been provided by the government.

For self-isolated patients at home, they can take advantage of telemedicine services if available or report to the nearest Puskesmas to get medical monitoring by health workers.

In addition to improving drug services, the government is also strengthening health workers to anticipate the toughest conditions. The Ministry of Health has been preparing to re-recruit health volunteers as a backup for health workers for the most difficult conditions.

"In addition to recruiting, we also carry out regular checks on our health workers. The positivity rate of our health workers is currently below 10 percent. No health workers have died so far from the Omicron variant of COVID-19 because they are already prepared and given booster vaccinations for prevention. Even if infected, the symptoms are mild or asymptomatic," he said.