Jokowi Asks For Mass Production Of Domestically Made Medical Devices By The End Of May

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Twitter @Jokowi)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo said that the domestic industry has succeeded in developing innovations in the field of medical devices such as PCR kits, RDTs, ventilators, and BSL-2 laboratories to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

So he hopes that the results of this innovation will be mass produced soon. The goal is that Indonesia no longer depends on imported products from abroad.

"We hope that by the end of May all innovations can be mass produced so that they no longer depend on imported products," said Jokowi in a video conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account, Thursday, May 14.

Moreover, said Jokowi, the quality of domestic production is not inferior to imported goods from outside. Likewise in terms of design is also not left behind. So, domestic products should be able to compete and be proud.

"We have to appreciate the work of all the children of this nation, we have to appreciate it, we have to support it, we have to give it as much space as possible, take advantage of it, and use it for the safety and progress of the nation and state," he said.

In the midst of a pandemic situation like today, Jokowi reminded Indonesia that Indonesia must be able to rely on its own strength. Because, currently together with 213 other countries, Indonesia is facing a situation and heavy pressure to save the people and the country's economy.

So standing on your own feet is a must. "Standing on our own feet. Must be able to solve our own challenges, both health and socio-economics," he said.

He also advised that the COVID-19 pandemic should not be a barrier for innovators. He considered, current limitations should be a new challenge in innovation.

"Limitations actually encourage us to keep innovating, encourage us to transform, explore our potential, and create opportunities," he said.

Previously reported, Minister of Research and Technology Bambang Brojonegoro explained the development of domestic medical equipment production to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, he said, the domestic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing tool is already in the validation stage. In addition, the government has tested four domestic-made ventilator prototypes and one of them has entered the clinical trial stage.

Testing of breathing aids is carried out by the Health Facility Safety Center (BPFK) of the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes).

"The production capacity is approximately 100 ventilators per factory per week. So it is hoped that this can catch up with our ventilator needs, which are still quite large," said Bambang on May 11.