RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Vice Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Dante Saksono Harbuwono, officially opened the 2026 Indonesian Health Laboratory Association (ILKI) National Seminar on Thursday, April 16, 2026. In his remarks, the Vice Minister emphasized the key role of health laboratories in establishing accurate diagnoses, as well as a crucial foundation for transforming the national health system.

As a clinician, Prof. Dante highlighted that laboratory test results are always the most anticipated by patients. "As a clinician, there's one question I'm always asked after every patient examination: 'What are the lab results, Professor?' That's where certainty lies, that's where a diagnosis is made and a decision can be made," Prof. Dante conveyed.

Furthermore, the Vice Minister emphasized that technological developments, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), are bringing about major changes in the world of health laboratories. "AI is not a threat, but rather an accelerator. AI is shifting the service paradigm from curative to predictive and preventive. However, professional conscience and responsibility remain irreplaceable by any technology," he affirmed.

Amidst rapid technological developments, the Vice Minister of Health also warned of real challenges, such as rising reagent costs and reliance on imported equipment. Therefore, leadership in the laboratory sector is required to be adaptive and visionary.

"Today's laboratory leaders must be AI-aware and able to develop a digitalization roadmap, without sacrificing quality, and while remaining grounded in accreditation and standardization," he said.

At the national level, the Ministry of Health continues to promote digital transformation through the integration of the SATU SEHAT platform and the Electronic Health Record (EHR), so that laboratory results can be accessed in real time and strengthen the health surveillance system. "We want lab results to no longer be scattered, but rather become real-time data that can be accessed anywhere and strengthen national surveillance," the Vice Minister of Health conveyed.

In addition, the government is also strengthening the Public Health Laboratory network from Tier 1 to Tier 5 through the InPULS program, to ensure equal distribution of service quality to remote areas.