EMR R&D Agency Develops Mechanical Ventilator for Covid-19 Patients

MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

PRESS RELEASE

NUMBER: 161.Pers/04/SJI/2020

Date: 21 April 2020

EMR R&D Agency Develops Mechanical Ventilator for Covid-19 Patients

The Research and Development Agency of Ministry of EMR is perfecting its innovation of mechanical ventilator and hopes the ventilator can immediately get certification from Jakarta's Health Facility Supervisory Office (BPFK), so that it can be used to help the breathing of Covid-19 patients.

The research on the ventilator has been directly led by Head of the EMR R&D Agency, Dadan Kusdiana, and conducted by teams from R&D Center for Electricity, New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Technologies (P3TKETBTKE) as well as R&D Center for Oil and Gas Technologies (PPPTMGB) "LEMIGAS".

Minister of EMR had directed the research, instructing that the R&D Agency made active contribution to the handling of Covid-19 pandemic by developing low-cost and safe-to-operate ventilator that helps the breathing of Covid-19 patients.

"The research started on 4 April 2020. Currently, we're making a number of adjustments to ensure that the 18 items required by the BPFK, such as pressure support setting, tidal volume, and rate of breathing, can be met. We hope the ventilator will be completed soon and can be used to help Covid-19 patients," said Head of EMR R&D Agency, Dadan Kusdiana, in Jakarta on Tuesday (21/4).

Dadan says the ventilator completed a mechanical ventilator trial along with four other ventilator development teams, namely Universitas Indonesia (UI), Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), and Institut Teknologi 10 November (ITS) at RS Pertamina Jaya, Jakarta (16/4). In total, 18 teams are developing ventilators in Indonesia, among others, EMR R&D Agency, BPPT, UI, ITB, ITS, UGM, RSAL Mintohardjo, and several automotive companies.

Witnessing the trial, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOE), Erick Thohir, said that ventilator was crucial in the handling of Covid-19. Ministry of SOE will assign PT LEN (Persero), PT Pindad (Persero), and PT DI (Persero) to manufacture ventilators, while distribution will be handled by PT Indofarma Tbk. (INAF), a health equipment SOE.

The design of the EMR ventilator has been consulted with representatives from Directorate of Health Equipment and Household Health Supplies Supervision, Health R&D Agency, Health Facility Supervisory Office of Jakarta, Indonesian Anesthesia Professionals Association, Faculty of Engineering of Universitas Indonesia, and the doctors of Ministry of EMR.

"Consultation and assistance are needed to show the EMR R&D Agency's commitment to prioritize ventilator safety standards," Dadan concluded. (IY)

Head of Bureau of Communication, Public Information Services, and Cooperation

Agung Pribadi (08112213555)

Share This!