"We used the Rp3.55 trillion budget from 2022 to provide medical equipment to regional hospitals," the ministry's spokesperson, Mohammad Syahril, said in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He informed that the government aid was distributed to 148 regional general hospitals (RSUDs). Meanwhile, government assistance to vertical hospitals was distributed 100 percent.
The funds were used to meet medical needs for the prevention of catastrophic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, kidney ailments, and cancer, and were distributed evenly in districts and cities in Indonesia, Syahril said.
"This policy is part of efforts to bring access to health services closer to remote areas, which is manifested in the transformation of the Indonesian health system, especially in the second pillar," he added.
He said that his ministry is also working to make referral services accessible to all patients living in remote areas of Indonesia by distributing assistance to fulfill the demand for priority medical devices and assistance for cardiac catheterization and open heart surgery.
As a result, government assistance funds have been distributed to 148 RSUDs and 24 central general hospitals (RSUPs) in 31 provinces to procure priority medical equipment.
The effort has also received support from governors to develop a network of referral services at RSUDs, including heart services in 24 provinces, stroke in 21 provinces, cancer in 21 provinces, and uronephrology in 29 provinces.
In addition, Syahril informed that the ministry has also conducted a cardiac catheterization assistance program at 37 hospitals and a stroke program at 3 hospitals. It is targeting to ensure that 50 percent of districts and cities in Indonesia gradually have complete medical equipment for handling 4 catastrophic diseases by 2024.
Medical devices for the treatment of heart disease and stroke include echocardiogram machines, CT-Scans, cath lab machines, operating room sets, IABP devices, Rotablator systems, IVUS-FFR systems, MRI machines, neuro microscopes, heart-lung machines, and OCT machines.
Meanwhile, the devices used in cancer treatment comprise mammography machines, SPECT CT machines, flow cytometers, CPI, bronchoscopy, brachytherapy, CUSA devices, LINAC devices, PET-CT scanners, and CT Simulator systems.
The medical devices used in uronephrology comprise endourology sets, ESWL machines, C-Ams, Doppler ultrasound machines, urodynamic videos, Holmium lasers, automated peritoneal dialysis machines, PCNL tools, URS, and tissue typing equipment.
Syahril said the government will also procure medical devices for maternal and child health in the form of anesthesia machines, patient monitors, ventilators, fetomaternal ultrasound machines, baby incubators, laser ablation machines, HFOV equipment, nitrite oxide machines, HFOT devices, and HFNC machines.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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