Healthcare innovation often begins with a simple problem: a patient waiting too long for an appointment, a hospital struggling with paperwork, or a clinician needing better information to make a decision. New technologies promise ways to address these difficulties, but an idea that works in a demonstration does not automatically work safely in everyday medical practice. Between invention and adoption lies the essential work of testing.
Indonesia's Ministry of Health announced on September 15, 2026, the results of its Health Sandbox program for 2025–2026. Of the 30 health technology innovations that participated, 21 completed the testing stages and met the program's criteria. Those innovations were recommended to receive an ITK number, a designation associated with the ministry's evaluation process.
The program was designed to assess technologies across several dimensions, including accessibility, quality, protection, and potential benefits for the public. Rather than treating every new product as ready for widespread use, the sandbox approach provides a structured setting in which innovations can be examined and refined. It also gives regulators an opportunity to identify questions that may require clearer policies or additional safeguards.
The participating innovations were assessed through three schemes: an innovation development sandbox, an industrial sandbox for expanding use, and a regulatory sandbox focused on policy development. Each scheme addresses a different stage in the relationship between new technology and the healthcare system. Some projects concentrate on developing a solution, while others explore how it might be adopted more widely or governed responsibly.
Among the innovations listed in the regulatory sandbox were AI Claims Document Checking by Paperless Hospital, Assist, Aveola, dkonsul, Gerak Pro, Micromeet, Olin, Tenang AI, and Toyeight. The industrial sandbox included Aibiz Medical. The innovation development scheme included projects such as Aurelif, Curalis, Fellas.ID, Health BETA, JagaHealth, Kibicare, ONWARD Health Research, RespiraHub, SatuSehatConnect, Serenic.ai, and TemuCita.
The range of participants illustrates how health technology extends beyond medical devices. Digital tools may support administrative processes, communication, patient services, research, and other activities within healthcare. Some applications use artificial intelligence, while others may focus on improving how existing services are organized or delivered. Their value depends on the specific problem they address and whether they can demonstrate reliable performance in practical settings.
For hospitals and patients, evaluation is especially important because health-related decisions can carry significant consequences. Software may process sensitive personal information, influence administrative decisions, or support clinical workflows. A system that saves time but produces unreliable results may create additional work or introduce new risks. Assessment therefore needs to consider not only whether a product functions, but also how it behaves when conditions are complicated or information is incomplete.
The program also provides a route for regulators to learn from emerging technologies. The ministry said it would continue developing policy recommendations based on the regulatory sandbox's findings, with publication scheduled for October 2026. Such recommendations could help clarify the gaps between the risks and benefits of new innovations and inform future rules for responsible adoption.
Still, completing the sandbox is not the same as proving that every product is suitable for every hospital or patient. Technologies may require additional validation, appropriate authorization, integration with existing systems, and training for the people who use them. Their effects on access, cost, and quality of care must also be assessed as deployment expands.
Indonesia's Health Sandbox represents an effort to connect innovation with evidence before technologies become more widely used. Its success will depend on whether the evaluation process helps useful solutions reach healthcare providers while identifying limitations and protecting patients. The number of projects that completed the program is an important milestone, but the longer-term measure will be what those technologies contribute in practice.
On September 15, 2026, Indonesia's Ministry of Health announced that 21 of 30 participating innovations had completed the 2025–2026 Health Sandbox program and were recommended to receive ITK numbers. The ministry also said policy recommendations from the regulatory sandbox were scheduled for publication in October.
### Image Disclaimer
These AI-generated illustrations represent general healthcare technology testing and digital medical services. They do not depict actual sandbox participants or certify the safety or effectiveness of any product.
### Sources
• Indonesian Ministry of Health
• Health Sandbox Indonesia
• Paperless Hospital
• SatuSehatConnect
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