Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Biomedical and Genome Science Initiative (BGSi) focuses on preventive health services to improve the quality of life for people, according to the Ministry of Health.

Ririn Ramadhany, co-founder of BGSi, said that currently, 67 percent of our healthcare costs are spent on medication, and only 17 percent is allocated to prevention.

"BGSi exists in line with the government's focus on keeping people healthy and enhancing their quality of life," she noted during an online discussion on Tuesday.

The health innovation is based on genomic technology that utilizes genetic information from humans and pathogens to facilitate the use of precise medications and determine more accurate treatments for patients.

BGSi plays an important role in improving the referral services, enabling Indonesia to develop cutting-edge technologies for hospitals and enhance public resilience in the healthcare sector, she explained.

"We want BGSi to be the catalyst. BGSi does not define itself as a player but rather as a supporter that assists our health ecosystem, with players including health academics, clinicians, startups, and the pharmaceutical industry," she noted.

Genetic information obtained through genomic sequencing can be used for preventive measures, as each person's DNA is unique and can indicate different risk factors for diseases.

"If the risks of certain diseases have been detected through genomic technology, we can prevent them by implementing specific lifestyle changes, such as avoiding certain foods," she remarked.

Through early disease detection, BGSi technology can contribute to the first pillar of health transformation, which is prevention before illness occurs.

"The goal of BGSi is to eliminate diseases with a high risk of infection to support hospital services. It is based on the utilization of genomic technology for precise medication," she explained.

Related news: Health Bill creates chance to catch up in biotechnology: Minister
Related news: Minister Sadikin presents Indonesia's BGSi at exhibition in Singapore

Translator: Lintang B P, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2023