A teleconference about remote medical services was held on Thursday in which experts from China and Indonesia shared their insights. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Government officials and medical experts from Indonesia and Guangzhou, Guangdong province, participated in a teleconference on Thursday about remote medical services used in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The conference was hosted by Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, secretary-general of an organization called United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made a significant impact on people's lives and placed a heavy burden on medical resources in urban areas, with effective and quick access being especially important to groups including women and children, said Chen Yini, co-president of the group and chair of its standing committee for women.

Remote medical services allow online diagnoses and medical consultation and help keep the consumption of key resources in check.

In the long run, remote services are an effective supplement to in-person medical services and help improve the healthcare system, Chen said.

A team from the Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center led by its Party secretary, Xia Huimin, shared the center's experience with remote medical services, Internet hospital and treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Xia put forward suggestions for the cooperation with member cities of the governmental consortium.

Representatives from Indonesia briefed the conference on remote medical services in the country and expressed their interest in cooperating further.

The project is intended to serve the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations and has been jointly carried out by governmental group and the Association of Indonesia Municipalities.