Indonesia-China Agree to Establish Joint Digital Health Laboratory

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Health Ministry and Xuzhou Medical University (XZMU) in Jiangsu Province, China, have agreed to establish a China-Indonesia Joint Laboratory for Digital Medicine and Proactive Health, marking a new step in bilateral cooperation in health technology and research.

The agreement was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the Ministry of Health and XZMU and was witnessed by Indonesian Deputy Minister of Health Benjamin Paulus Octavius. The joint laboratory will focus on the development of digital health systems and the application of medical artificial intelligence (AI).

“This cooperation serves as an important foundation for developing digital health systems and applying medical AI aimed at improving the quality and accessibility of healthcare services for the Indonesian public,” Deputy Minister Benjamin said in a written statement in Beijing on Wednesday, Janaury 21, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The collaboration follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indonesian and Chinese governments on health and medical standardization, signed on November 9, 2024, in Beijing and witnessed by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Deputy Minister Benjamin visited China from January 15 to 18, 2026, with stops in Xuzhou, Hefei in Anhui Province, and Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province. The visit aimed to strengthen international cooperation in health, particularly in laboratory research, health information systems, medical AI technology, healthcare education and facility development, and medical device standardization.

“This collaboration is a strategic step to accelerate the transformation of Indonesia’s national health system through strengthened research and the use of safe, standardized medical digital and AI technologies that are oriented toward public needs,” he added.

During the visit, the Indonesian delegation also observed the application of AI technology in primary healthcare services and the development of tuberculosis diagnostic tools based on Molecular Rapid Test (TCM) technology.

“The Indonesian government encourages technology transfer and the strengthening of the domestic medical device industry, including plans to develop TCM production facilities in Indonesia,” he explained.

The deputy minister emphasized that all forms of international health cooperation are carried out with a focus on technology transfer, national capacity building, and the protection and sovereignty of health data.

The working visit is expected to lay the foundation for sustainable Indonesia-China cooperation in the development of digital health-based innovations, while strengthening national research capacity to support health development priorities, including accelerating tuberculosis elimination and reinforcing primary healthcare services. ***