The 2025 APAC Health and Life Sciences Summit – Spotlight Indonesia successfully took place on 3 June in Jakarta. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Health of Republic of Indonesia and ASK Health Asia, this year’s summit marked the first country-focused edition of the APAC Health and Life Sciences Partnership Platform. It brought together over 150 speakers and participants from more than 10 countries across the region, including senior policymakers, industry leaders, international organisations, academic institutions, and investors, creating a high-level platform for cross-sectoral dialogue and partnership in Indonesia.

The day opened with welcome remarks from the hosts, Dr. Chang Liu, Founder and CEO of ASK Health Asia, and Andreas Donny Prakasa, Head of Corporate Relationship at PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia.

The summit featured a series of deep-dive sessions designed to explore the intersection of policy, collaboration and investment in strengthening Indonesia’s health and life sciences ecosystem.

Subsequent opening speeches were delivered by senior leaders from the Indonesian Ministry of Health and other key government agencies.

Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, opened the summit by delivering remarks underscoring the government’s commitment to transforming the national health system and fostering international partnerships to promote equity, access, and innovation across the region. He highlighted the urgent need for health policy reform in Indonesia and emphasized the importance of adopting new technologies and innovative service models to deliver higher-quality, more affordable care. Minister Budi also invited international companies to invest in Indonesia’s rapidly growing healthcare sector, noting that national health spending is expected to increase over the next five years. He highlighted that Indonesia’s large population and healthcare infrastructure present a unique and promising opportunity for global stakeholders.

Dr. Laksana Tri Handoko, Chairman of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), emphasized the importance of research-driven collaboration to advance sustainable health and life sciences development in Indonesia. He introduced BRIN’s open-access business model, which “opens all researchers and facilities to be accessed by any local and global partners—academic or industry—based on a co-development scheme, sharing both publications and intellectual properties.” Dr. Handoko highlighted BRIN’s focus on utilizing local renewable natural resources to tackle local health challenges, such as developing halal vaccines using microalgae, affordable diagnostics, and portable medical equipment. “We aim to enable private-sector-driven innovation by leveraging our national biodiversity and infrastructure,” he noted, referencing BRIN’s management of over 2 million biological specimens across Indonesia.

 

Dr. Taruna Ikrar, Head of the Indonesian Food and Drug Agency (BPOM), outlined Indonesia’s ongoing regulatory reforms and emphasized the importance of strategic coordination to advance public health, strengthen regulatory systems, and foster innovation in the life sciences sector. He noted that “our institution has been working intensively to align with global best practices,” and stressed that “this is more than just regulatory reform—it is a commitment to public health, quality of life, and global recognition.” Dr. Ikrar highlighted BPOM’s growing collaboration with international agencies and underscored the critical need to invest in human resources, infrastructure, and more effective regulatory mechanisms. Concluding his remarks, he affirmed, “With the right partners, policies, and platforms, we can turn vision into reality and build a responsive, resilient, and innovation-driven health system for Indonesia and beyond.”

 

The first session focused on Indonesia’s ongoing reforms and their implications for health policies and life sciences industry development.

 

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. L. Rizka Andalucia, Director General for Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices at the Ministry of Health, who provided a comprehensive overview of Indonesia’s pharmaceutical and medical device landscape, as well as ongoing health system transformation and regulatory developments. She emphasized that the government of Indonesia is firmly committed to health system transformation, which is being advanced through six strategic pillars aimed at improving access, quality, and resilience across all levels of care. Dr. Rizka highlighted that the Ministry of Health has developed an inclusive and integrated strategy to foster an ecosystem that enables research, innovation, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. In support of these goals, the government has enacted key legislative and regulatory frameworks—including the Health Omnibus Law and related regulations—to build a stronger, more equitable, and innovation-friendly healthcare system. As Dr. Rizka concluded, “We are proud to contribute by inviting strategic co-investment in areas where innovation meets impact and partnership drives sustainable progress.”

 

A second keynote was presented by Dr. Tri Asti Isnariani, Acting Deputy for Supervision of Medicines, Narcotics, Psychotropics, Precursors, and Addictive Substances at the Indonesian Food and Drug Agency (BPOM), delivered a presentation focused on regulatory reform and regional collaboration to build a Medicine and Vaccine Development Ecosystem. She outlined Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening the full product life cycle—from R&D to post-market surveillance—by implementing Good Regulatory Practices, digitizing processes, and aligning with international standards. “We are building a regulatory ecosystem that supports both innovation and safety,” Dr. Isnariani stated, emphasizing BPOM’s role in facilitating clinical trials, accelerating approvals, and supporting local manufacturing through reliance models and technical assistance. She also highlighted successful models of collaboration in Indonesia, such as Indonesian FDA Role in building access to local Covid-19 vaccine production. In closing, she stressed, “Collaboration is key to achieving better access, stronger innovation, and more equitable health outcomes.”

Following the keynotes, a high-level roundtable discussion was held, moderated by Eugene Hong, Head of Healthcare and Pharmaceutical, Institutional Banking Group at DBS Bank. The session brought together diverse perspectives from across the region, including Daniel Katz, General Manager for South East Asia at Bristol Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Ltd.; Professor John CW Lim, Executive Director of the Centre of Regulatory Excellence at Duke-NUS Medical School and Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Health, Singapore; Professor David Barry Hipgrave, Lead for Research at the SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute; Ye Xu, Senior Health Specialist at the Asian Development Bank; Neeraj Jain, Director of Growth Operations for Asia, the Middle East and Europe at PATH; and Audrey Clarissa, Vice Chair of Business Development at GP Farmasi Indonesia (GPFI). During the roundtable, panelists discussed Indonesia’s sweeping healthcare policy reforms, emphasizing their potential to drive greater access, quality, and innovation across the system. Experts from development agencies and academia highlighted the key policy drivers, and industry leaders shared perspectives on how these reforms are unlocking innovation and market opportunities. Several speakers pointed to digital health, local manufacturing, and cross-sector collaboration as promising growth areas. This roundtable concluded with a shared optimism about Indonesia’s potential to lead ASEAN in healthcare innovation and equitable service delivery.

 

The next session turned to the theme of cross-regional collaboration, moderated by Charlene Huang, Partner at Global Law Office. The panel brought together Paul Huleatt, Counsellor (Health) at the Australian High Commission in Singapore and Regional Advisor for the Indo-Pacific Regulatory Strengthening Program at the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA); Wenfeng Gong, Deputy Director for Health, Innovation & Partnership at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Zhiliang Tu, Founder and Chairman of Gushengtang Traditional Chinese Medicine Chain Management Group; Yuan Lu Ho, Vice President of Partnership, Strategic Planning and Outreach at the Diagnostics Development Hub; Yaping Shen, Vice President at Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals; Amira Ghouaibi, Head of the Global Alliance for Women’s Health at the World Economic Forum; and Chaonan Qian, President of Guangzhou Concord Cancer Center. They explored the role of partnerships in addressing access gaps and aligning innovation efforts across countries. Panelists highlighted successful partnership models between public, private, and philanthropic sectors in addressing systemic health challenges. The discussion also emphasized the critical role of such collaborations in overcoming barriers to health equity, particularly in emerging economies like Indonesia.

 

The first session in the afternoon focused on building capacity for life science innovation in Indonesia.

Ms. Dita Novianti, Director of Pharmaceutical Production and Distribution, Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia, delivered afternoon opening remarks on building capacity for life science innovation in Indonesia, emphasizing that the primary goal of health innovation is to improve public health outcomes and ensure effective implementation across the healthcare system. She highlighted the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance access to quality health products and technologies, aligned with Indonesia’s broader healthcare transformation vision. Ms. Novianti called for continued multi-sector collaboration, evidence-based policymaking, and regional partnerships to build a more resilient, inclusive, and innovation-oriented healthcare system. She expressed hope that through collective dialogue and action, Indonesia can lead regional progress in health innovation and improve outcomes for all.

 

Professor Auliya A. Suwantika, Chair of InaHTAC, Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia, delivered a keynote address on the newly established Health Technology Assessment (HTA) business process designed to accelerate life science innovation in Indonesia. He began by outlining Indonesia’s broader healthcare transformation agenda, grounded in the vision of fostering a healthy, productive, independent, and equitable society. Professor Suwantika highlighted the significant milestones achieved in institutionalizing HTA, which has become a critical tool for the Ministry of Health in guiding decisions on new technology adoption. He presented the newly developed HTA business process in detail and called for multi-stakeholder collaboration to support sustainable health system transformation.

 

Nathan Tirtana, President Director of Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia, delivered a keynote on shaping the future of life sciences in Indonesia. He introduced Etana’s three strategic pillars for building local capabilities: Quality & Access, Knowledge Transfer, and Collaboration. Mr. Tirtana also highlighted the national burden of diseases such as Tuberculosis (TB), Diabetes, Chronic Kidney Disease, and Cancer, using them as examples to illustrate both the healthcare challenges Indonesia faces and the innovative solutions being developed. He concluded by outlining Etana’s vision for contributing to the advancement of Indonesian healthcare through localized innovation and strategic partnerships.

 

A roundtable moderated by Giles Newmarch, Senior Investment Officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), explored investment and operational strategies shaping the future of health and life sciences in Asia. The session brought together Jusong Xia, President of International Business at United Imaging Healthcare; Xingrong Chen, CEO of Fosun Kairos; Frank Wu, General Manager of International Business at 3SBIO Inc.; Navjeewan Khosla, Partner at Novo Holdings; Dr. Suci Melati Wulandari, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Outbreak Preparedness, Duke-NUS Medical School and affiliated with the SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute; and Dr. Anwar Santoso, member of the Supervisory Board at IASMED. Panelists explored Indonesia’s capacity-building efforts to support life science innovation, with a focus on clinical research, talent development, and regulatory strengthening. Discussions also highlighted the need for robust HTA systems, enhanced domestic manufacturing capabilities, and streamlined regulatory processes. Panelists shared insights on public-private partnerships, the evolving needs of the Indonesian market, and how regional cooperation—particularly with China and other global stakeholders—can accelerate progress and position Indonesia as a leader in Southeast Asia’s life sciences landscape. The session concluded with a shared vision of Indonesia emerging as a key innovation hub in the region—provided that strategic investment and cross-sector collaboration continue to advance.

 

A highlight of the summit was the Innovator Showcase segment, which featured pioneering work from across Asia’s life sciences ecosystem.

Jun Yan of Gushengtang presented the company’s strategic approach to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), outlining its business models across different markets and sharing insights into future expansion plans.

Kate Qi of SG Diagnostics introduced innovative solutions in health management systems, emphasizing point-of-care diagnostics, health education, and data collection capabilities. She also shared SG Diagnostics’ operational experience in Hong Kong and Singapore, with the aim of contributing to population-wide health improvement in Indonesia.

Jason Gao of iKang showcased the company’s integrated service platform and nationwide network, highlighting its unique value proposition driven by digital transformation, including the use of AI and big data.

Abby Tan Chee Hong of EVYD Technology shared the company’s vision to “build a future where everyone can access better health.” He provided a detailed overview of EVYD’s capacities in digital transformation and data governance, and their broader contributions to advancing the healthcare ecosystem.

 

The topic of sustainable health financing was the focus of the next session.

Chang Liu moderated a forward-looking panel that explored the evolving landscape of health financing and insurance innovation across the region. The discussion brought together Yosie William Iroth, Chief Health Officer at Prudential Indonesia; Iwan Pasila, Deputy Commissioner of Insurance, Guarantee Institutions, and Pension Fund Supervision at the Financial Services Authority of Indonesia (OJK); Yao Lei, Associate Director (Research and Dialogue) and Health Lead at the Global Asia Insurance Partnership (GAIP); Paul Setio Kartono, President of the Society of Actuaries Indonesia (PAI); and Edward Booty, CEO of reach52.

This roundtable examined Indonesia’s journey toward universal health coverage, focusing on the achievements and sustainability challenges of the national health insurance program (JKN). Participants explored how private insurance and coordinated financing models could complement JKN to expand access to innovative therapies. Discussions also highlighted experience from sustainable Asian healthcare financing systems, e.g., Singapore, analyzing models that balance affordability, innovation, and equity to inform Indonesia’s next-phase reforms.

Ahmad Irsan A. Moeis, Director for Health Financing at the Ministry of Health, presented an in-depth introduction to Indonesia’s healthcare expenditure, analysing the specifics of each financing scheme. He also highlighted Indonesia’s journey with its national insurance scheme (JKN), along with strategies to expand coverage and improve long-term sustainability.

 

The final session examined the investment landscape for life sciences in Indonesia. Moderated by Barney Yao, Managing Director at Haitong International, the roundtable convened key voices from across the investment and biotech ecosystem, including May Lo, Investment Director at abc Impact, Temasek Trust Asset Management; Jiadi Yu, Chief Investment Officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC); Sean Shi, Director and CEO of Sino-Innovax Biotec Pte Ltd; Alva Chen, Managing Director for Healthcare at VMS Group; and Vijay Karwal, Managing Director at CBC Group. They shared practical insights on how local companies can navigate the funding environment, scale impact, and attract long-term strategic capital. The discussion also touched on regulatory predictability, valuation alignment, and cross-border opportunities. This roundtable examined investment opportunities in Indonesia’s rapidly growing life sciences sector, driven by market expansion, infrastructure development, and health system reforms. Participants analysed high-potential areas like diagnostics and pharmaceuticals. Discussions spotlighted the key successful factors of partnership between foreign investors, local companies, and government agencies that can jointly accelerate R&D and innovation.

 

Closing the summit, co-hosts Andreas Donny Prakasa and Dr. Chang Liu extended heartfelt thanks to all partners and speakers for their contributions to a meaningful day of learning, exchange, and connection.

Dr. Liu noted that Indonesia’s leadership and openness to collaboration not only made the summit impactful, but also reaffirmed ASK Health Asia’s commitment to advancing country-level innovation and fostering regional partnerships.

As part of the Summit programme, a business visit to Jakarta was organized, where industry leaders from across Asia engaged in candid and constructive discussions with key Indonesian stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). A major highlight of the visit was a Closed-Door Meeting personally chaired by Indonesia’s Minister of Health, Mr. Budi Gunadi Sadikin, focusing on cross-regional collaboration and future initiatives in Indonesia.

This summit would not have been possible without the strong support of our strategic partners: SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Haitong International, Etana, and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Medicines & Health Products (CCCMHPIE), as well as our Knowledge Partner, the Centre of Regulatory Excellence (CoRE) at Duke-NUS Medical School.

Together, we look forward to building on this momentum to co-create innovative, sustainable, and inclusive solutions for health systems across Asia.

Vibrant Jakarta! Dynamic Indonesia!  Shaping health futures in Asia!