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Healthcare

Health-Tech Startup Inspirasien Revolutionizes Patient Support, Wins HISA 2024

28 Nov, 2024
Health-Tech Startup Inspirasien Revolutionizes Patient Support, Wins HISA 2024

Astriani Dwi Aryaningtyas founded the health technology startup Inspirasien, which has made great strides in the field by winning first place in the 2024 Health Innovation Sprint Accelerator (HISA), which is run by the Indonesian Ministry of Health. The award, presented at the Health Innovation Festival (HAI Fest) in Jakarta on November 9, 2024, marks a major milestone for the startup, which has been dedicated to enhancing patient support services since its inception.

The journey to this prestigious recognition was not driven by a desire to win but by a commitment to developing better patient support systems. Astri, the founder, shared in an interview that the original motivation behind joining the HISA program was more focused on learning and development. The team did not expect to win but rather aimed to improve their services and gain valuable insights. “Our goal was to focus on improving patient advocacy and social services, not just on winning,” she explained.

The competition was rigorous, with the program lasting almost five months, including pitching battles and various other challenges. For Inspirasien, the experience was enriching, allowing the team to refine their services while also validating their work. “Winning this award feels like a major affirmation that what we’ve been building is relevant and appreciated,” said Astri. However, despite this early success, she emphasized that there is still much work to be done, particularly in navigating the regulatory requirements of Indonesia's Ministry of Health.

Inspirasien was founded in 2020, drawing inspiration from Astri’s personal journey as a thyroid cancer survivor. After her diagnosis in 2011, she found that there was a lack of patient support services, especially for those dealing with chronic conditions. This gap led her to create "Pita Tosca," a community for individuals affected by thyroid diseases, which today has over 7,000 members across Indonesia. But Astri realized that community support alone was not enough to address the broader needs of patients. This realization led to the birth of Inspirasien, which has since evolved into a comprehensive patient advocacy platform.

Inspirasien offers three primary services: patient advocacy, health education, and referral programs. The Patient Advocacy Service provides guidance to individuals from prediagnosis through rehabilitation, addressing both physical and mental health needs. The health education service aims to raise public awareness about health rights and issues through a collaborative approach. Meanwhile, the referral program connects patients with a wide network of healthcare providers, including hospitals, laboratories, and pharmacies.

Astri has faced numerous challenges in establishing clear regulations around patient advocacy in Indonesia. She also noted that the concept of patient advocacy is often misunderstood as merely social work or volunteerism. "We want to break the stigma and establish patient advocacy as a professional service, recognized and regulated," she said.

As a social enterprise, Inspirasien understands the importance of collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, hospitals, and academic institutions like Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Astri believes that partnerships are crucial for building a sustainable health ecosystem. "Collaboration is key to creating a sustainable health innovation ecosystem," she emphasized.

Inspirasien’s success is also reflected in its earlier achievement of being named among the top 10 finalists of the HK Tech 300 Southeast Asia competition. As a health-tech platform, Inspirasien is at the forefront of transforming patient advocacy into a professional, regulated service that empowers patients and healthcare providers alike.

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