The COVID\u201119 pandemic accelerated investment in health infrastructure across Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and Thailand.<\/p>\n
Indonesia built over 600 COVID-19 testing labs<\/a> between 2020 and 2021, expanded telehealth services<\/a>, and introduced digital platforms to monitor diseases. However, these improvements<\/a> were concentrated in urban areas, while many remote regions remains underdeveloped.<\/p>\n Thailand took a different approach. Alongside establishing more than 10,000 COVID-19 labs, it developed an integrated healthcare system that monitors disease outbreaks nationwide, including among migrant workers. <\/p>\n Research<\/a> suggests that Thailand\u2019s integrated approach has successfully strengthened the country\u2019s preparedness for future public health emergencies \u2014 something Indonesia should learn from to broaden its public health access across the archipelago.<\/p>\n Thai government\u2019s fast response<\/p>\n Thailand successfully detected and tracked a new COVID\u201119 wave<\/a> in mid\u20112025, which recorded around 374,000 cases and 84 deaths.<\/p>\n The country had already demonstrated its capacity during the first wave in 2020. Among the first nations to detect COVID-19, Thailand contained the outbreak in less than six months<\/a>. Of 3,195 confirmed infections, 3,072 patients recovered, resulting in an impressive 96% recovery rate.<\/p>\n Two factors explain this success.<\/p>\n First, the Thai Ministry of Public Health quickly established the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), which coordinated responses across ministries and delivered consistent public communication.<\/p>\n Second, public compliance with health measures was exceptionally high<\/a>, particularly compared to Indonesia<\/a>.<\/p>\n Read more: A 2020 survey by Imperial College London<\/a> found Thailand had the highest adherence to preventive measures in ASEAN, with 89\u201398% of respondents<\/a> regularly wearing masks, washing hands, and following health guidelines.<\/p>\n This combination<\/a> of good governance and public trust strengthened the country\u2019s disease surveillance system.<\/p>\n Digital platforms to track disease<\/p>\n Thailand\u2019s disease monitoring system<\/a> links local and central governments through nationwide digital networkss.<\/p>\n Health data are collected in real time using everyday devices<\/a> such as smartphones and computers. Two mobile applications play a central role.<\/p>\n MorChana<\/a> uses GPS and Bluetooth to identify close contacts and people entering high-risk areas, allowing authorities to detect potential infections quickly.<\/p>\n Mohpromt<\/a> manages digital vaccination records and electronic health records, enabling hospitals to access patients\u2019 medical records instantly.<\/p>\n Together, the applications have around 36 million users<\/a>, which is nearly half of Thailand\u2019s population, including migrant workers, and are connected to Thailand\u2019s broader digital disease surveillance system.<\/p>\n Test results from hospitals and clinics are uploaded within seconds, while residents can easily access their own health records.<\/p>\n Reaching remote communities<\/p>\n Indonesia illustrates the challenges of building an integrated health system across a vast archipelago.<\/p>\n During the pandemic, the Indonesian government developed at least seven health apps<\/a>, including the national SatuSehat platform<\/a>, which now integrates platforms such as e-HAC and SIRANAP.<\/p>\n However, many local governments also created their own apps \u2014 like Pikobar<\/a> in West Java, Sawarna in Bandung, and PaPa Sulbar in West Sulawesi \u2014 which often cannot connect with the national platform.<\/p>\n This fragmentation, combined with geographical barriers<\/a> and uneven internet access<\/a>, limits nationwide disease surveillance and reduces the effectiveness<\/a> of digital health services.<\/p>\n Read more: Thailand addressed these challenges by expanding digital connectivity. Through the Net Pracharat<\/a> project, the government installed broadband networks and free Wi-Fi hotspots<\/a> in thousands of villages, allowing low-income households to access digital public services, including healthcare.<\/p>\n Thailand also strengthened healthcare access<\/a> through its tax-funded Universal Coverage Scheme<\/a>, which provides basic health services for all Thai citizens and increasingly for migrant workers.<\/p>\n
\n How satellites have become Earth\u2019s new health and nature watchdogs<\/a><\/p>\n
\n Tracking symptoms of respiratory diseases online can give a picture of community health<\/a><\/p>\n