Digital Health Policy and Health Law: Their Impact on Social Inequality

Abstract

urrent developments in digital technology have had a major impact on the health sector, including in Indonesia. In this study, the author uses a descriptive qualitative method combined with bibliometric analysis to examine how digital health policies affect social inequality, particularly from a health law perspective. Literature from various sources is analyzed to identify basic principles, emerging issues, and alternative solutions in the implementation of digital health policies. The results of the study show that policies such as SATUSEHAT, Electronic Medical Records (EMR), and telemedicine can indeed improve service quality, but on the other hand, they must be implemented with due regard to patient safety, personal data protection, healthcare worker accountability, and legal certainty. However, there are still many obstacles to overcome, such as limited infrastructure, low cybersecurity, poorly integrated legal regulations, and varying levels of compliance with the system among healthcare facilities. These conditions can exacerbate social inequality, especially for people who lack adequate digital literacy, stable internet access, or sufficient economic means. As a result, a digital divide has emerged, which risks creating inequality in healthcare services. Based on the results of the discussion, this study provides recommendations such as the need to increase human resource capacity, adjust telemedicine regulations to be more comprehensive, strengthen data security systems, and develop interoperability so that systems can connect with each other properly. Furthermore, active collaboration between the government, technology providers, and health facilities is needed so that digital health policies not only become a tool for improving service quality but also guarantee equal access for the entire community. Thus, digital health transformation can proceed in accordance with the principles of social justice and reduce existing disparities in society.