Indonesian experts call for capability-based referral routing, greater investment in trained stroke teams and broader insurance coverage to close the gap between Western and Eastern Indonesia.
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Structural delays occurring before patients reach treatment remain the biggest barrier to timely stroke care in Indonesia, according to a new report, Strengthening Stroke System Readiness Across ASEAN, unveiled today by Siemens Healthineers at Hospital Management Asia 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The report draws on insights from seven leading experts across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, including Dr. dr. Affan Priyambodo, Sp. BS (K), Subsp. N-Vas, Chief Medical Officer at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital in Yogyakarta. Experts identified that in Indonesia, the dominant delay in stroke care is structural rather than clinical, with significant time lost during hospital referral and insurance processing before a patient ever reaches treatment.
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability across the region: the World Health Organization's South-East Asia Region accounts for over 40% of global stroke mortality,[1] and carries nearly half of the developing world's total stroke burden, with severe long-term disability affecting roughly one-third of all stroke survivors[2]. In Indonesia, stroke is the leading cause of death[3], with the burden compounded by an ageing population[4] and continuing disparities in access to specialist care between Western and Eastern Indonesia.
"Every healthcare system across Southeast Asia is at a different stage of its stroke care journey, yet many of the challenges are shared," said Fabrice Leguet, Managing Director ASEAN and Head of Enterprise Services Asia-Pacific & Japan, Siemens Healthineers.
"In Indonesia, that challenge is to confirm the correct type of Stroke in time. Improving outcomes depends on how effectively the entire stroke system works together, from recognizing symptoms and activating emergency medical services to rapid diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation," said Alfred Fahringer, President Director, Indonesia, Siemens Healthineers.
Structural delays across the stroke pathway remain the greatest challenge in Indonesia
Indonesia has made substantial progress under its national stroke program, Program Pengampuan Stroke, which aims to build stroke care capability across all 514 districts and cities. As of April 2026, 231 districts could offer clot-dissolving medication (thrombolysis-capable), the standard emergency stroke treatment and 81 had the more advanced capability to physically remove blood clots or treat brain aneurysms (thrombectomy-capable), with a goal of full national thrombolysis coverage by 2027.
However, coverage remains highly uneven in Indonesia: almost all thrombectomy-capable districts are concentrated in the West, particularly Java, while Eastern Indonesia remains largely underserved. As a result, patients with the most severe strokes often need to be transferred from their initial hospital to a thrombectomy-capable facility – a critical source of delay in the treatment pathway. That delay is compounded before a patient is even transferred: low public awareness of stroke symptoms slows initial recognition, the absence of a unified emergency medical services (EMS) and triage protocol leaves many arriving without a clear plan of care, and in-hospital workflows vary widely from one facility to the next.
Financing adds a further layer of delay. Indonesia's national health insurance scheme, BPJS Kesehatan, provides broad coverage, though gaps in funding for emergency and specialized stroke treatment can slow access for some patients even where capacity exists.
A national model with local innovation
While no single model can be applied across every country, the report highlights approaches that are already demonstrating how the challenges can be addressed. In Yogyakarta and Bali, a 'hub-and-spoke' model has shown how centralising stroke care can improve outcomes across a wider catchment area. At Dr. Sardjito General Hospital in Yogyakarta, open vascular and endovascular stroke procedures are delivered by a single, integrated team, reducing dependence on any one skill set and helping to keep services running around the clock.
AI can support faster, more coordinated stroke care
Artificial intelligence was identified across the region as an important enabler of more connected stroke care, particularly in countries like Indonesia, where geographic distance separates many patients from stroke care. AI-enhanced tele-stroke networks could support referring hospitals with rapid imaging interpretation and decision support, helping extend specialist expertise into Eastern Indonesia. The experts stressed, however, that technology is most effective when integrated into well-designed clinical pathways and supported by trained professionals, robust referral networks and standardized care protocols.
Five priorities for strengthening stroke readiness
Beyond expanding infrastructure, experts agreed that the next phase of stroke care in Indonesia depends on how effectively patients are routed through the system that already exists. Immediate priorities for Indonesia include:
- Strengthening referral pathways and inter-hospital coordination to reduce transfer delays
- Moving from proximity-based to capability-based routing, sending patients directly to thrombectomy-capable centres
- Investing in trained neurointerventional nurses alongside new equipment
- Treating the stroke network as one system, with round-the-clock capability at comprehensive centres
- Improving public recognition of the FAST warning signs
"Stroke care depends on a chain of decisions and actions that begins before a patient reaches hospital. No single institution or technology can strengthen that chain alone," said Fahringer. "The hub-and-spoke model we've seen in Yogyakarta and Bali shows what that looks like in practice and the same principle must be scaled into a truly national referral network, so that geography no longer determines the level of care a patient receives."
Read the full report here.
Notes to editors: The ASEAN Stroke Response Insights Board brought together seven leading stroke experts from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam to discuss stroke system readiness across Southeast Asia. Indonesia was represented by Dr. dr. Affan Priyambodo, Sp. BS (K), Subsp. N-Vas, Chief Medical Officer at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta. Through a structured regional dialogue, participants shared country-specific experiences, identified common barriers across the stroke care pathway and developed practical recommendations to strengthen coordination, improve access and accelerate timely stroke care across the region.
Visit the Siemens Healthineers Press Center.
Subscribe to our "Medtech matters" newsletter on LinkedIn.
Siemens Healthineers pioneers breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably. The company is a global provider of healthcare equipment, solutions and services, with activities in more than 180 countries and direct representation in more than 70. The group comprises Siemens Healthineers AG, listed as SHL in Frankfurt, Germany, and its subsidiaries. As a leading medical technology company, Siemens Healthineers is committed to improving access to healthcare for underserved communities worldwide and is striving to overcome the most threatening diseases. The company is principally active in the areas of imaging, diagnostics, cancer care and minimally invasive therapies, augmented by digital technology and artificial intelligence. In fiscal 2025, which ended on September 30, 2025, Siemens Healthineers had approximately 74,000 employees worldwide and generated revenue of around €23.4 billion. Further information is available at siemens-healthineers.com.
| [1] Pandian JD, Padma Srivastava MV, Aaron S, et al. The burden, risk factors and unique etiologies of stroke in South-East Asia Region (SEAR). Lancet Reg Health Southeast Asia. 2023; 17:100290. doi:10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100290 |
| [2] Ng JC, Churojana A, Pongpech S, et al. Current state of acute stroke care in Southeast Asian countries. Interv Neuroradiol. 2019; 25(3): 291-296. doi:10.1177/1591019918811804 |
| [3] Health Development Policy Agency (BKPK), Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia. Utilizing Disease Burden Data for Health Policy Transformation, 11 November 2025, citing Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 data, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation |
| [4] Statistics Indonesia (BPS). 2025 Intercensal Population Survey (SUPAS), May 5, 2026 |
[1] Pandian JD, Padma Srivastava MV, Aaron S, et al. The burden, risk factors and unique etiologies of stroke in South-East Asia Region (SEAR). Lancet Reg Health Southeast Asia. 2023; 17:100290. doi:10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100290
[2] Ng JC, Churojana A, Pongpech S, et al. Current state of acute stroke care in Southeast Asian countries. Interv Neuroradiol. 2019; 25(3): 291-296. doi:10.1177/1591019918811804
[3] Health Development Policy Agency (BKPK), Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia. Utilizing Disease Burden Data for Health Policy Transformation, 11 November 2025, citing Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 data, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation
[4] Statistics Indonesia (BPS). 2025 Intercensal Population Survey (SUPAS), May 5, 2026
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
In Indonesia, stroke care delays accumulate on the way to treatment, new report finds
Eightco treasury composition as of September 2, 2026: $90M OpenAI equity (indirect), $18M Beast Industries equity, 16,278 ETH, nearly 302 million WLD holdings, and $122M cash and equivalents, totaling approximately $380 million
Eightco recently repurchased over 25 million shares of common stock in the last month under its previously announced $125 million share repurchase program
Eightco previously participated in World Foundation's $52.5M funding round, led by Pantera with participation from Bain Capital Crypto, Selini Capital, Susquehanna Crypto, and additional investors
Eightco provides indirect exposure to some of the most innovative private companies including OpenAI and Beast Industries
EASTON, Pa., Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) ("Eightco" or the "Company") today provided an update on its total holdings, highlighting its position across digital assets and strategic investments in leading private technology companies. Over the past month, Eightco has repurchased over 25 million shares of its common stock under its previously announced $125 million share repurchase program.
As of September 2, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET, ORBS' holdings include a $90 million investment (indirectly, through SPVs) in OpenAI, an $18 million funded investment in Beast Industries, a $1 million investment in Mythical Games, 301,971,219 Worldcoin (WLD) at $0.37 per WLD (per Coinbase), 16,278 Ethereum (ETH), and approximately $122 million in total cash and stablecoins, for total holdings of approximately $380 million.
Top Headlines Driving the News:
Eightco's management believes the Company's treasury portfolio holds some of the most critical components for the future AI and digital financial system. This week's top headlines include:
- On September 2, World announced it has open-sourced ProveKit, a zero-knowledge identity proving toolkit. The launch makes ProveKit available to developers outside World. ProveKit is built into World ID and powers the privacy-preserving features that make proof of human useful for enterprises, consumer platforms, and developers (World).
- On September 1, SB Energy, an AI power infrastructure company backed by Softbank, OpenAI and Nvidia, filed for a potential IPO. In its initial filing, the company said it is "substantially dependent" on the performance of OpenAI as both a tenant and equity investor in SB Energy (CNBC).
- On September 1, MrBeast released a book with one of the world's bestselling authors James Patterson, called The Most Dangerous Games (HarperCollins).
- On August 31, OpenAI announced that its advertising business, ChatGPT Ads, reached $1 billion in annualized revenue run rate less than 200 days after launch. The platform is now used by tens of thousands of advertisers and continues to expand globally (Axios).
- On August 31, OpenAI announced its support for the California Senate Bill 1119 to advance youth AI safety. This legislation is intended to establish meaningful safeguards for how young people use AI while preserving their access to tools that can help them learn, create, and prepare for the future (OpenAI).
- On August 21, it was announced that peaqOS and World ID partnered to enable Proof of Human for robots and machines. A machine can check that the person in front of it is a real human, and the same one who placed the order. It never learns a name, a face, or a number (peaq).
"AI stocks have been under pressure recently, partly a result of backlash against data centers. This seems to be an issue resonating with voters," said Tom Lee, Board Member of ORBS. "But despite this setback, AI progress continues at a rapid pace as evidenced by the multiple meaningful announcements in the past week."
"Eightco executed additional share buybacks as the Company has judged that accretively acquiring shares is a high return use of capital," stated Lee.
Eightco: Exposure to key mega-trends
Eightco is built around three mega-trends the Company expects to shape the next decade of innovation: artificial intelligence, digital identity, and the creator economy, with positions in each trend through indirect investment in OpenAI (24% of ORBS' treasury holdings), Worldcoin (29%), and Beast Industries (5%).
Artificial Intelligence — OpenAI
Eightco has invested approximately $90 million in special purpose vehicles with exposure to equity interests in the parent company of OpenAI, representing approximately 24% of treasury assets, one of the highest disclosed concentrations of any listed vehicle.
ChatGPT, OpenAI's consumer app, is the #1 consumer AI app worldwide (Sensor Tower). On July 31, 2026, OpenAI announced that its models now reach more than one billion active users and more than two million businesses. Six months after signing up, people send roughly 50 percent more messages each day and use ChatGPT for about twice as many kinds of work.
Digital Identity — WLD Token
Eightco holds nearly 302 million WLD, approximately 8.3% of circulating supply, the largest publicly disclosed institutional position globally and approximately 29% of the Eightco treasury's assets.
Worldcoin is the native token of World, a global Proof of Human network built by Tools for Humanity (co-founded by Sam Altman and Alex Blania) and stewarded by the World Foundation. Its Orb devices issue a privacy-preserving World ID that verifies a user is a unique human, not an AI agent.
Under World's announced business model, applications pay per-verification fees while end-user verification remains free, with both credential issuers and the World protocol monetizing verified-human authentication. World identifies a $6.35 trillion combined addressable revenue opportunity across 13 industries spanning banking, e-commerce, gaming, social media, and agentic AI (per Tools for Humanity).
Creator Economy — Beast Industries
Eightco has invested $18 million in Beast Industries equity, approximately 5% of treasury assets.
Beast Industries operates one of the largest direct-to-consumer reach footprints in the world, with a combined 500 million-plus follower base across platforms, anchored by MrBeast as the most-watched person on YouTube globally. As AI commoditizes content production, distribution and audience trust become increasingly scarce assets.
About Eightco Holdings Inc.
Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) is a publicly traded company executing a first-of-its-kind Worldcoin (WLD) treasury strategy, providing investors single-ticker indirect exposure to three of the defining trends of this cycle: artificial intelligence through its indirect investment in OpenAI, digital identity through its position as the largest public holder of WLD and the Proof of Human protocol, and the creator economy through its equity stake in MrBeast's Beast Industries. Backed by leading institutional investors including Bitmine Immersion Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BMNR), MOZAYYX, World Foundation, Discovery Capital Management, FalconX, Payward/Kraken, Pantera, and GSR, Eightco is building the infrastructure layer for human verification in the agentic AI era.
For more information:
X: @iamhuman_orbs
Website: 8co.holdings
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ORBS stock?
Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) is a publicly traded company on Nasdaq. ORBS provides indirect exposure to OpenAI and Beast Industries, and holds one of the largest publicly disclosed positions in Worldcoin (WLD).
Who owns the most Worldcoin (WLD)?
Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) holds nearly 302 million WLD, approximately 8.3% of circulating supply and the largest publicly disclosed institutional position globally.
What is Proof of Human?
Proof of Human is cryptographic verification that a user is a unique, living person, not a bot or AI agent. It is foundational infrastructure for social networks, banking, agentic commerce, and any system requiring "one person, one account" in the agentic AI era.
How does Eightco (ORBS) relate to Proof of Human?
Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) is the largest publicly disclosed institutional holder of Worldcoin (WLD), the token powering World's Proof of Human network.
Who is the CEO of Eightco Holdings?
Kevin O'Donnell is the CEO of Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS). The Company's Board includes Tom Lee (Managing Partner and Head of Research at Fundstrat, and Chairman of Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE: BMNR)) and, as an advisor to the Board, Brett Winton (Chief Futurist at ARK Invest).
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact could be deemed forward-looking, including, without limitation, statements regarding: the Company's expectations that artificial intelligence, digital identity, and the creator economy will shape the next decade of innovation; management's belief that the Company's treasury portfolio holds some of the most critical components for the future AI and digital financial system; management's belief that accretively acquiring shares is a high return use of capital; statements that AI progress continues at a rapid pace; statements regarding World's addressable revenue opportunity of $6.35 trillion across industries spanning banking, e-commerce, gaming, social media, and agentic AI; statements that distribution and audience trust become increasingly scarce assets as AI commoditizes content production; statements that the Company is building the infrastructure layer for human verification in the agentic AI era; statements that Proof of Human is foundational infrastructure for social networks, banking, agentic commerce, and systems requiring verified human identity; statements regarding the Company providing indirect exposure to defining trends through its investments in OpenAI, WLD, and Beast Industries; and statements regarding continued share repurchases under the Company's $125 million share repurchase program. Words such as "plans," "expects," "will," "anticipates," "continue," "expand," "advance," "develop," "believes," "guidance," "target," "may," "remain," "project," "outlook," "intend," "estimate," "could," "should," "positioned," "view," and other words and terms of similar meaning and expression are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such terms. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company's inability to direct the management or operations of private businesses where it is not a controlling stockholder, including OpenAI and Beast Industries; risk of loss or markdown on the Company's strategic investments, including its indirect position in OpenAI equity (held through special purpose vehicles), its position in WLD, and its position in Beast Industries equity; the Company's ability to maintain compliance with Nasdaq's continued listing requirements; unexpected costs, charges, or expenses that reduce the Company's capital resources or otherwise delay capital deployment; inability to raise adequate capital to fund or scale its business operations or strategic investments; volatility in digital asset prices, including WLD and ETH, which could materially affect the value of the Company's treasury holdings; regulatory changes, future legislation, and rulemaking negatively impacting digital assets, artificial intelligence adoption, or biometric data collection; risks related to the development, adoption, and market acceptance of Proof of Human technology and the World network; uncertainty regarding the pace and trajectory of agentic AI deployment in enterprise and consumer applications; uncertainty regarding OpenAI's product roadmap, business model developments, and any future liquidity events; risks related to Beast Industries' ability to achieve its growth projections; competition in the digital identity and AI infrastructure markets; reliance on third-party sources for the valuation of certain investments; uncertainty regarding MrBeast's continued success and the performance of Beast Industries' creator-driven business model; risks related to the Company's concentrated positions in certain digital assets and private company investments; risks related to the Company's share repurchase program, including the timing, pricing, and amount of any repurchases; shifting public and governmental positions on digital assets or artificial intelligence-related industries, including potential backlash against data centers; risks related to the timing, features, and commercial reception of OpenAI's model releases; risks related to OpenAI's advertising business and its ability to sustain revenue growth; and risks that WLD supply dynamics may not result in anticipated market effects. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause Eightco's actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements herein, see Eightco's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the risk factors and other disclosures in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 15, 2026, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 15, 2026 and other publicly available SEC filings. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Eightco undertakes no duty to update this information or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect actual results or any change in its expectations.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) Reports Total Holdings of Approximately $380 Million, Includes OpenAI, Beast Industries, More Than 16,000 ETH and Nearly 302 Million WLD Tokens
Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) Reports Total Holdings of Approximately $380 Million, Includes OpenAI, Beast Industries, More Than 16,000 ETH and Nearly 302 Million WLD Tokens
