Indonesia Independent Production of Covid-19 Test Equipment and Ventilators End of May

Indonesia Independent Production of Covid-19 Test Equipment and Ventilators End of May

There is good news from the Minister of Technology Research / Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency, Bambang Brodjonegoro, said that domestic producers are ready to produce COVID-19 test kits and ventilators by the end of May 2020.

"It is targeted that this synthesis peptide-based rapid test can be produced from 50,000-100,000 units, our rapid test kit industry capacity can be 100,000 units per month," he said after attending a meeting via video teleconference on handling the COVID-19 pandemic "led by President Joko Widodo.

"In addition to the rapid tests that are already in the validation stage, there are actually three more types of rapid tests that are being developed but it will take a month or two ahead," Bambang continued.

If in the examination using the PCR method the researcher examines fluid samples from the lower respiratory tract and then extracts nucleic acids in them to determine corona virus infection, a rapid diagnostic test or rapid test is used to detect immunoglobulin reactions in blood samples to detect infections at a faster time, between 15 minutes to three hours.

Meanwhile, regarding the ventilator production plan, Bambang said that there have been four prototype ventilators that have been tested by the Health Facilities Safety Center of the Ministry of Health and are currently undergoing clinical trials.

"One in four, namely those from ITB, have completed clinical trials and are expected to enter the production phase soon," said Bambang.

He added, three other ventilator prototypes developed by the University of Indonesia, the Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), and PT Dharma were still being tested clinically this week.

"It is likely that next week large amounts of production can already be carried out. The production capacity is 100 ventilator units per plant per week," Bambang said.

"Outside of medical devices, we submit a drug update. Clinical trials are being carried out on various types of drugs used in various countries for COVID-19 patients. We also conduct clinical trials on quinine pills against components of modern Indonesian native medicines," he added.

At the Athlete's Emergency Hospital Wisma, according to him, also being carried out clinical trials using Indonesian herbal ingredients to increase the body's resistance to COVID-19.

Regarding therapy, an update of plasma convalescence, it has been developed in several hospitals and there is a national protocol for conducting clinical trials in more hospitals in Indonesia.

"Plasma therapy is expected to increase the cure rate of patients," Bambang concluded.