Universitas Gadjah Mada, in collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Research and Technology, plans to distribute as many as 11,000 Covid-19 rapid detection test kits in several health offices and public hospitals in several regions in Indonesia. The rapid test kits that were distributed resulted from the innovative work of UGM researchers and a collaboration of researchers from other universities. The product named RI-GHA is an abbreviation of the Republic of Indonesia-Gadjah Mada Hepatika Airlangga.
Prof. Sofia Mubarika, main researcher from RI-GHA, said that this rapid Covid-19 diagnostic test kit is based on antibodies to detect IgM and IgG produced by the body to fight Covid-19. Before being tested, the RI-GHA research and development had followed a long process to improve product quality that was not inferior to similar commercial products on the market. ” This tool had been gone through a long process, and the formula had been improved,” said Sofia Mubarika during the handover of 1,500 RI-GHA products to the Head of the Sleman Health Service, Joko Hastaryo, at the Mlati II Public Health Center, Sleman on Wednesday (14/11).
Sofia Mubarika added that the making of this Covid-19 rapid diagnosis tool is part of researchers’ efforts to assist the government in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. He also appreciated the Indonesian Ministry of Research and Technology for helping to distribute 11 thousand of these products for free to the public. “I would like to thank the Ministry of Research and Technology for supporting the innovative products of this nation’s children to be downstreamed to the community,” she said.
As is known, RI-GHA is produced through the UGM Science and Techno Park health factory in the Minomartani area, Sleman. This medical device innovation was developed to meet the need for Covid-19 detection devices that are easy to apply, accurate, and can be produced domestically to support the nation’s independence in facing the Covid-19 pandemic.
The distribution of the Covid-19 rapid diagnosis tool is planned to be distributed to 2,000 units for the Unsoed Medical Faculty, 1,500 units for the Yogya City Health Office, 1,500 units for the Gunungkidul Health Office, 1,500 units for the Kulon Progo Health Office, 1,000 units for Makassar City Health Office, and 1,000 units for UMM General Hospital (Malang) and the Health Office of Malang Regency as many as 1,000 units.
The Head of the Sleman Health Service, Joko Hastaryo, welcomed the distribution of this rapid diagnosis tool by UGM and Airlangga University researchers. He hopes this tool can be produced more at an affordable price. “Hopefully, it will be cheaper later,” he said.
He said that for a single test with RI-GHA, it only costs IDR 75 thousand. In fact, the rapid test that Sleman Regency had ordered for rapid test products previously cost 85 thousand for one test to anticipate the cluster post-election activity.
Head of the Sub-directorate of Food, Health and Drug Industry, Ministry of Research and Technology, Novi Mukti Rahayu, hopes that this innovative product from UGM can help overcome Covid-19 in the country. She explained that the innovative products distributed are diagnostic test equipment and other innovative products such as ventilators and herbal medicines. “Hopefully, it can be used by the community at large, and we can get through this pandemic well with the hope that our economy will revive,” she said.
Source: https://ugm.ac.id/id/berita/20413-ugm-bagikan-11-ribu-alat-rapid-test-ri-gha
