Professor of Imaging Physics at the UGM Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA UGM) Gede Bayu Suparta takes pride in his research accomplishment, the Digital X-Ray Fluorescence Radiography (RSFD) device.
Now ready for mass production, this innovation is set to support healthcare services, particularly in medical screenings, medical check-ups (MCUs), emergency services (extremities), and diagnostics.
Professor Suparta has been researching RSFD since 1990, even before the rapid advancement of computer and internet technologies.
With funding from various research schemes supported by the Ministry of Research and Technology, intensive RSFD research began in 2000 at the Department of Physics, FMIPA UGM, involving students and research partners.
“Hopefully, this tool can inspire UGM researchers because the process of commercializing research results is incredibly challenging, costly, time-consuming, and exhausting,” he reflected on Monday (Nov. 28).
The RSFD technology, now branded as DDR Madeena, stands for Direct Digital Radiography, with “Madeena” representing the spirit of Made-in-Indonesia.
Professor Suparta recounted the licensing challenges during DDR Madeena’s commercialization process amid the COVID-19 pandemic through the TFRIC-19 program in 2021.
“In 2020, RSFD was included among 40 technologies to mitigate COVID-19 risks. However, its downstream process was delayed when BPPT merged into the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in 2022,” he explained.
Since 2022, DDR Madeena’s commercialization has been continued by PT Madeena Karya Indonesia, which secured a distribution permit as a domestic medical device (AKD) from the Ministry of Health (No. 21501220581, issued on Nov. 17, 2022) for its Medical Image Digitizer (MMD) product, under the trade name Madeena X-Ray Medical Diagnostic Equipment.
Additionally, DDR Madeena has earned a Domestic Content Level (TKDN) certificate with a score of 57.62% and is listed in the national e-catalog. Thus, government-funded procurements (APBN, APBD, or other public funds) are mandated to purchase this product.
“With this achievement, my duty as an academic and researcher to oversee the commercialization of research results is complete,” Professor Suparta remarked.
To enhance user confidence, beta testing, and teleradiology were conducted to validate the quality of the domestically produced device against international standards.
PT Madeena Karya Indonesia facilitated beta testing involving human volunteers at the Pratama Clinic, managed by the Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha (FK Undiksha), Singaraja, Bali.
Results confirmed that DDR Madeena successfully generated readable thorax and extremities radiographic images, earning FK Undiksha’s recommendation for safe use in hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and clinics.
The DDR Madeena’s comprehensive features include lead knock-down room radiation protection, a DICOM viewer, a PACS archiving system, and teleradiology capabilities. These enable radiologists to transmit and read radiographic images remotely.
This aligns with Indonesia’s digital health transformation goals outlined in Health Law No. 17 of 2023 and Government Regulation No. 24 of 2024.
“This tool significantly enhances accessible healthcare services across the country, provided there is internet and cloud data storage connectivity,” Professor Suparta stated.
The system, developed by PT Madeena Karya Indonesia and branded as the Madeena Health Care System (MHCS), aims to optimize Indonesia’s limited 2,200 radiologists. The MHCS system could eventually adopt AI-based diagnostic tools.
Professor Suparta expressed hope for the government’s commitment to supporting domestic products like DDR Madeena through gradual production, continuous monitoring, and improvements.
“The device supports health screenings, MCUs, emergency services, and diagnoses of TB, chronic pulmonary diseases (COPD), and cancer. It may also be used for pediatric examinations, such as assessing physical growth in stunted children,” he explained.
Professor Suparta encouraged companies and organizations concerned with public health to participate in DDR Madeena’s production and installation through health-focused Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs or joint radiography service ventures in clinics and hospitals.
“Hopefully, UGM can develop more progressive and disruptive strategies to ensure academic research translates into societal applications, driving the national economy,” he concluded.
Author: Triya Andriyani