I Care About How Many People Actually Get The Help They Need Through Halodoc: Jonathan Sudharta, CEO

Halodoc is a leading Indonesian healthcare technology company that has transformed how healthcare services are accessed in the country. Founded with the mission to make healthcare more accessible and convenient, the company connects users with licensed doctors for consultations via video calls, chat, and voice. It also provides prescription services and medication delivery, overcoming the challenges of geography, time, and healthcare infrastructure in a vast and diverse nation like Indonesia. By integrating telemedicine with a strong network of pharmacies and medical professionals, Halodoc offers a seamless healthcare experience that prioritizes convenience, affordability, and quality, improving access to care for millions of Indonesians.

What first sparked the idea for Halodoc?

It started with personal frustration. I watched family members struggle to access healthcare, sometimes spending hours just to get a consultation. Traffic, crowded waiting rooms, the inefficiencies of it all—it was clear that the system burdened the very people it was supposed to serve. I wasn’t thinking about building an app at the beginning. I simply wanted to find a better way for people to take care of their health without unnecessary suffering.

You had a secure position at Mensa Group. What gave you the courage to walk away from that?

Comfort can be dangerous. Working at Mensa taught me a lot about healthcare operations, but it also showed me how broken the system was. Over time, the urge to build something better became stronger than the need for stability. I knew that if I stayed where I was, I would only become part of the status quo. Leaving wasn’t about taking a risk for excitement—it was about honoring a responsibility I felt deeply.

What do you believe set Halodoc apart from other companies that struggled in this space?

We never approached healthcare as a problem to "disrupt." Healthcare is complex for a reason. Lives are involved. From the beginning, we approached it with respect. We listened—really listened—to doctors, patients, nurses, and regulators. Instead of assuming we had the answers, we built Halodoc around what people actually needed. That mindset shaped everything we did, and it continues to do so.

Was there a moment early on when you knew Halodoc was on the right path?

Confidence in healthcare comes slowly. It wasn’t a single moment. But I do remember one night—a mother reached out after using Halodoc to consult a doctor for her sick child. She told us it made a terrifying night a little easier. That message stayed with me. It reminded me that even one consultation can change a life. That’s when I knew the work mattered.

How do you make sure that a digital service like Halodoc doesn’t lose the human element?

Technology should never replace humanity. It should support it. We focus on making every interaction feel personal. Behind every consultation is a person who might be anxious, scared, or overwhelmed. Every design decision, every operational policy, keeps that reality in mind. We train our teams to prioritize empathy over speed. In healthcare, efficiency means nothing if you forget kindness.

When you think about success metrics, what matters most to you?

Impact, without question. Downloads, installations, app rankings—those are secondary. I care about how many people actually get the help they need through Halodoc. Are they able to complete a consultation? Are they receiving their medication on time? Are they feeling reassured? Impact isn’t always glamorous, but it’s the only thing that lasts.

Indonesia’s geography is challenging. How did you build Halodoc to reach people across the country?

We recognized early that Indonesia is not one single market. What works in Jakarta doesn’t necessarily work in Papua or Sulawesi. We built partnerships with local pharmacies, clinics, and logistics providers. We respected the uniqueness of each region. It meant slower, more deliberate growth, but it also meant sustainable solutions that genuinely served communities.

Leading a company through that kind of complexity must be difficult. How do you stay focused?

Routine is essential. I start my days early, carve out quiet time for reflection, and stay disciplined about where I put my attention. It’s easy to get swept up in noise, especially in a high-growth environment. I remind myself daily why we exist — to make healthcare more accessible. If an activity doesn’t serve that mission, it doesn’t deserve my focus. 

You mentioned the influence of your upbringing earlier. How did it shape your leadership approach?

My father built Mensa Group from the ground up. Watching him taught me the value of persistence and respect for craft. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Success isn’t about chasing trends or quick wins. It’s about doing the hard, often invisible work with consistency and integrity. Those lessons never left me.

Many companies talk about innovation. How do you define it in the context of Halodoc?

Innovation isn’t about flashy features. It’s about meeting real needs better than before. Sometimes innovation is simplifying a confusing process. Sometimes it’s building trust where none existed. In healthcare, you can’t throw out what works just to seem modern. True progress honors the past while carefully improving on it.

What was one mistake that taught you an important lesson?

We underestimated how critical trust would be. We believed that if we made the app easy to use, adoption would follow. But healthcare isn’t transactional. People are putting their well-being in your hands. Building that trust took more time and effort than we anticipated, and maintaining it remains an ongoing responsibility.

Halodoc is now recognized outside Indonesia. Is international expansion on the horizon?

Expansion is a tempting idea, but we remain grounded. Indonesia itself remains full of unmet needs. Our focus is on deepening our impact here before looking elsewhere. Growth for the sake of headlines has never been our approach. If and when we do expand, it will be because we are genuinely ready to serve another community with the same commitment we bring at home.

What advice would you give to a young entrepreneur hoping to build something meaningful in healthcare?

Start by listening more than talking. Healthcare is complicated because human lives are complicated. Don’t fall in love with your solution before you understand the real problems. Be patient. Progress in healthcare moves slowly for good reasons. And remember: trust is hard-earned and easily lost. Protect it above everything.

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice when starting Halodoc, what would it be?

Be patient with the process. There will be setbacks. There will be doubts. Focus on doing the work properly, day by day. Good intentions, disciplined effort, and respect for the people you serve will carry you through.

After all the milestones, what continues to drive you?

The work remains unfinished. Every day, someone somewhere still struggles to access basic healthcare. As long as those barriers exist, so does our responsibility to keep building, to keep serving, and to keep listening. Titles and awards are fleeting. What lasts is the difference you make in real people's lives.

Jonathan Sudharta, Co-Founder & CEO, Halodoc

We train our teams to prioritize empathy over speed. In healthcare, efficiency means nothing if you forget kindness.