NEW YORK — FIND, the global alliance for diagnostics, and the Republic of Indonesia said on Thursday that they have agreed to work together to increase access to diagnostic testing in the Asian country.
Under the terms of a three-year memorandum of understanding, FIND and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia (MOH) will collaborate to improve primary care in Indonesia by increasing access to point-of-care diagnostics that can be used in community settings, enhancing local manufacturing, and promoting sustainable domestic investments in testing. The alliance will also focus on diagnostics and surveillance initiatives that can help minimize the inappropriate use of antibiotics to help combat antimicrobial resistance.
Additionally, the partners plan to support digital health initiatives in Indonesia such as interconnected health data management systems for integrated patient care and disease surveillance. They will also work together to facilitate policy development and capacity building for the evaluation and regulation of new digital tools, FIND and MOH said.
"Indonesia has long demonstrated great leadership and unwavering commitment in healthcare," Bill Rodriguez, CEO of Geneva, Switzerland-based FIND, said in a statement. "The collaboration we are announcing today recognizes the critical role of diagnostic testing in ensuring health and health security for everyone."