Deepening Exchange and Cooperation: Indonesian Ministry of Health Delegation Visits XMCH to Study Hospital Informatization

On September 23, a delegation led by Setiaji, Senior Advisor to the Minister on Health Technology and Chief of Digital Transformation Office, Ministry of Health visited Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital Xiamen University (XMCH) to conduct an in-depth tour of the hospital and study its informatization efforts. The delegation consisted of five members, accompanied by Wang Qiaoshen, Secretary at the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia, and Su Mingyu, Manager at Foreign Talent Research Center of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Director Wang Yan, Vice director Chen Yuan, and three Indonesian scholars from the Heart Sapling Visiting Scholar Program attended the discussion session.

The delegation visited several departments, including the outpatient clinic, health management center, interventional therapy center, helicopter landing pad, and chest pain center. They were provided with detailed explanations from department heads about XMCH’s latest developments and achievements in smart hospital construction, the remote electrocardiogram (ECG) platform, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and the optimization of overall medical service processes.

During the visit, the Indonesian guests expressed their admiration for the advanced technology and efficient management in the hospital’s informatization construction. Particularly when touring the remote ECG platform, they learned how XMCH has implemented a system that allows real-time transmission and analysis of patients’ ECG data. This system enables doctors to detect potential heart issues in patients promptly and provides high-quality professional diagnostic services for patients in remote areas. Director Setiaji showed great interest in this system and noted that it could be a valuable solution to address the healthcare challenges in Indonesia’s rural areas, which suffer from insufficient medical services.

At the discussion session, Director Wang Yan introduced the development history, clinical resources, innovative technologies, and international development plans of XMCH to the Indonesian delegation. Information Technology Department Director Fu Lei reported on the hospital’s informatization progress, digital transformation innovations, and successful experiences. Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on the integration of AI in healthcare, health big data, and the medical and health system, exploring the feasibility of cooperation in areas such as digital healthcare and emergency response systems. Setiaji praised the work and achievements of XMCH’s informatization construction and expressed a strong desire for further collaboration. He also thanked XMCH for training several Indonesian scholars through the Heart Sapling Visiting Scholar Program.

In August of this year, Director Wang Yan's team was invited to visit Surabaya, Xiamen’s sister city in Indonesia, where they toured Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital and signed a cooperation agreement. During the visit, they guided the completion of the first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in eastern Indonesia, as well as Indonesia's first intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) procedure for coronary artery disease, using innovative domestically produced devices. XMCH has already received three scholars from Indonesia under the Heart Sapling Visiting Scholar Program, fostering close exchanges and deepening collaboration between the two parties.

The Indonesian delegation's visit to XMCH is an innovative practice under the Global Development Initiative, aiming to deepen medical cooperation between countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. This visit will serve as a bridge for further collaboration in the healthcare sector, contributing to the high-quality development of healthcare systems in both countries.