TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Research, Technology, and Higher Education Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro aims to produce domestically the vital healthcare equipment essential to treat COVID-19 patients. The equipment includes a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test kit, portable ventilators, and rapid test kits, that are expected to start production early next month.

The equipment he refers to is the ones developed by the COVID-19 innovation and research consortium formed by the ministry.

"The goal is to hopefully have the portable ventilators, rapid test kits, and PCR, next month,” said the minister in a video conference on Thursday, April 23, citing May as the earliest the equipment could be produced.

Bambang concedes that the domestically developed PCR is hoped to reduce the dependence of imported reagents. The advantage of this, he continues, is that the PCR equipment can be developed based on local viruses that are sourced from Indonesian COVID-19 patients.

“This is still in its trial phase, we definitely soon expect to obtain certification for mass production and eventually can be utilized,” said Bambang. “We must reduce our dependence since reagents are a rare commodity and every country needs them.”

As for the coronavirus rapid test kits, the minister is eyeing to be able to locally produce up to 100,000 units which would be advantageous to conduct mass test sessions within a narrower timeframe.

Meanwhile, the production of portable ventilators is developed by the University of Indonesia (UI), Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), private firms, and the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT).

MOH KHORY ALFARIZI