The Dynamics of Indonesia's Telemedicine Regulatory Transition

Harmonization, Data Protection, and Legal

Abstract

The rapid development of telemedicine in Indonesia has driven the need for adaptive and consistent regulations to manage remote healthcare services. Although there are already regulations to manage telemedicine, consistency of norms within these regulations remains a challenge. Furthermore, strengthening of standard operating procedures (SOPs), patient data and privacy protection, and the legal responsibilities of the parties in telemedicine in the digital era is increasingly pressing. This study aims to analyze the evolution of telemedicine regulations in Indonesia from a historical perspective and examine the consistency of norms in aspects of SOPs, data protection, and legal responsibilities of the parties. The research method used is doctrinal legal research, that is a qualitative analysis of primary and secondary legal sources such as laws, regulations, and academic literature. This method allows for an in-depth understanding of the substance and development of legal norms related to telemedicine, while identifying relevant legal interests and regulatory gaps too. The results show that telemedicine regulations in Indonesia have gradually developed from 2015 to the present, but inconsistencies between legal instruments have the potential to create legal uncertainty for service providers and patients. Telemedicine implementations need uniformity of SOPs to ensure service quality, data protection, and patient privacy still needs strengthening the regulatory implementation and legal accountability for all parties is a main focus to address the risks of malpractice and data misuse. In conclusion, Indonesian telemedicine regulations require harmonization of norms and strengthening of legal protection to effectively address technological dynamics and societal needs. Synchronizing operational standards, data protection, and legal accountability within comprehensive regulations is key to ensuring the sustainability of safe, reliable, and equitable telemedicine services.