Inspirasien, a health-tech startup focused on patient advocacy and founded by an alumna of UGM’s Faculty of Psychology, has achieved first place in the 2024 Health Innovation Sprint Accelerator (HISA) program organized by Indonesia’s Ministry of Health.
The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Health, Kunta Wibawa Dasa Nugraha, presented the award for best health-tech innovation in HISA 2024 during the Health Innovation Festival (HAI Fest) at Jakarta Convention Center on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, coinciding with the National Health Day celebration.
In an interview with Inspirasien’s founder, Astriani Dwi Aryaningtyas, she shared her startup’s journey leading to its recognition as the best health-tech innovation in the Health Innovation Sprint Accelerator (HISA) 2024.
Aryaningtyas recounted how their initial goal in joining HISA was more about learning and development, with no pressure to win.
She revealed that Inspirasien decided to participate in HISA because she felt it was the right time for the startup to enter a competition.
“Our goal was to focus on developing patient advocacy services and social initiatives, not chasing a victory,” Aryaningtyas said in an interview on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.
The selection process lasted nearly five months and provided many new experiences for Inspirasien.
From the initial registration phase to activities such as pitching battles and other competitions, Aryaningtyas said her team approached everything with a relaxed and flowing mindset.
“When we were informed that we had won, it felt like a significant validation of our services at Inspirasien. We were incredibly proud. It proved that what we’ve built is relevant and appreciated,” she added.
However, Aryaningtyas acknowledged that their journey was far from over.
While this award provides initial validation, formal processes still need to be pursued, especially through the Ministry of Health’s regulatory sandbox.
“The regulatory sandbox is the first step for our services to receive oversight, guidance, and recognition during the demand test phase. It’s the main gateway for digital healthcare services to enter the Ministry of Health ecosystem,” she explained.
Aryaningtyas founded Inspirasien in 2020, inspired by her personal journey as a thyroid cancer survivor since 2011.
She shared that the lack of patient advocacy services at the time prompted her to create a community called Pita Tosca as a platform for those fighting or concerned about thyroid health. Today, the community has over 7,000 members across Indonesia.
“Pita Tosca was the initial step. However, I realized that patient advocacy couldn’t be limited to a community. That’s why Inspirasien was born,” she explained.
In its services, Inspirasien offers three main programs to support patient health.
The first is the Patient Advocacy Service, which advocates for physical and mental health conditions, from pre-diagnosis to rehabilitation.
The second is Health Education, where Inspirasien educates the general public about their rights and health through collaborative approaches.
The third is a Referral Program, which connects patients with various healthcare providers, such as hospitals, laboratories, and pharmacies.
Aryaningtyas mentioned that one of the biggest challenges for Inspirasien is establishing clear regulations for patient advocacy in Indonesia.
Additionally, the startup continually keeps up with technological advancements, including leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to support its innovations.
Despite this, patient advocacy is often mistaken for social work or volunteering.
“That’s why we want to break this stigma and establish patient advocacy as a professional service recognized by regulations,” Aryaningtyas said.
As a sociopreneurship-based startup, Aryaningtyas emphasized that Inspirasien relies heavily on collaborations with various parties, including the Ministry of Health, hospitals, and academic institutions such as UGM.
She believes that collaboration is the key to creating a sustainable healthcare ecosystem.
Previously, Inspirasien also achieved recognition as a Top 10 Finalist in the Southeast Asia HK Tech 300 Competition.
As a health-tech platform, Inspirasien provides comprehensive advocacy services for patients, caregivers, patient communities, health cadres, and health-focused individuals.
With its slogan #TenangJadiPasien (Feel at Ease as A Patient), the service is designed to help patients understand their rights, access healthcare services, and feel supported throughout their treatment journey.
Author: Lintang
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang