Expanding Access Beyond Distance: Universitas Gadjah Mada Team Wins Bronze Medal at the 5th International Youth Summit 2026

A team of Biomedical Engineering students from Universitas Gadjah Mada achieved international recognition by winning the Bronze Medal in the Health subtheme at the 5th International Youth Summit 2026 (5th IYS 2026). The team received the award for their essay entitled "Expanding Access Beyond Distance: The Role of Telemedicine in Strengthening Indonesia's Health Equity." The 5th International Youth Summit 2026 (5th IYS 2026) is an international essay competition organized by the Sentosa Foundation in collaboration with the Centre of Entrepreneurial Development and Graduate Marketability (CEM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The competition brought together participants from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, and South Sudan.

This year's summit was held under the theme "Youth Contributions to Global Influence on International Policy Through Innovation." The final round took place in person in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, providing a platform for young innovators from various countries to present their ideas and contribute solutions to global challenges.

Competing in the Health subtheme, the Universitas Gadjah Mada team presented their essay, "Expanding Access Beyond Distance: The Role of Telemedicine in Strengthening Indonesia's Health Equity." The paper highlights the potential of telemedicine to improve equitable access to healthcare services, particularly for underserved and remote communities across Indonesia. By leveraging digital health technologies, the proposed solution aims to reduce disparities in healthcare access while supporting the achievement of sustainable and inclusive health development.