The Importance Of Private Contributions In Accelerating The Handling Of The COVID-19 Pandemic, Epidemiologist: The Presence Of GSI Lab Is Appreciated

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government's limited fiscal space to deal with the spread of COVID-19 and the impact of the pandemic on the economy has prompted business actors to intervene.

The involvement of business groups assisting the government in procuring vaccines and vaccination activities, providing COVID-19 test kits, as well as various equipment for medical workers is expected to accelerate the handling of COVID-19.

Head of the Professional Development Division of the Indonesian Association of Epidemiologists (PAEI) Masdalina Pane said assistance from entrepreneurs would ease the government's burden to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moreover, since last year's state spending has been quite bloated, while tax revenues are still quite depressed so that the budget deficit is at risk of widening.

"It's okay for the private sector to play a role, as long as it doesn't interfere with government programs," said Masdalina when contacted by reporters, Tuesday, November 2.

According to him, the most important thing that needs to be done right now is to accelerate the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and not to question various substances that are actually counterproductive.

"Regardless of who is involved, it is urgent to end the coronavirus outbreak," he said.

On the other hand, he said, the involvement of a number of businessmen who founded the Indonesian Solidarity Genomics (GSI) Lab last year which was used as a vehicle to help the government accelerate the handling of COVID-19 should also be appreciated.

Director of GSI Lab Aditya explained that the GSI Lab, which was initiated by a number of entrepreneurs, is a social entrepreneurship initiative and a pioneer of solidarity actions to support the government in providing quality genomic health services to all Indonesian people.

"We are committed to providing PCR testing services with reliable precision and high speed in accordance with government regulations. Our vision is to improve public health and welfare by providing fast, large-capacity and high-quality genomic and molecular services, which are connected to epidemiological data and digital information systems, ' said Aditya.

According to Aditya, as a form of commitment to social entrepreneurship, GSI Lab, through the #SwabAndSaveIndonesia social program, continues to carry out free PCR swabs to Indonesian people in need, namely the underprivileged and frontliners who have high risk. exposed.

In addition, GSI Lab also has the #SolidaritySequence social program which actively assists the Ministry of Health and the DKI Jakarta Provincial Health Office in conducting free Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) tests, in order to detect and carry out surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in Indonesia. DKI Jakarta Province and throughout Indonesia.

"The shareholders are committed to devoting the majority of the profits to developing the strength of the Indonesian health sector, especially in the field of PCR-based testing services to the general public and scientific understanding of the genetic challenges faced by the Indonesian people," said Aditya.