Universitas Gadjah Mada teams up with Indonesia’s Producers of Medical Devices(Aspaki) to produce medical devices in its factory in Science Techno Park (STP), Sleman regency.
The devices include shunts for hydrocephalus patients, heart ring and detection device for nasopharynx cancer. The cooperation is expected to help achieve national independence in drug and medical devices production.
“The development of these products can serve as an import substitute because we mostly still do imports of such products,” said Vice-Rector of Cooperation and Alumni, Dr. Paripurna Sugarda, to reporters after signing a cooperation agreement with Aspaki Chairman, Ir. Ade Tarya Hidayat, on Wednesday (25/9) in Hotel Eastparc Yogyakarta.
Paripurna said UGM would also produce paracetamol raw materials, which are currently still imported. “How can drugs be cheap if we still import paracetamol and the foreign companies will always win the competition,” he said.
According to Paripurna, the cooperation with the Association was expected to support the UGM effort to produce drug and medical devices on its own in order to achieve the national independence and fill the gap between the industry and campus.
Director of Business and Incubation UGM, Dr. Hargo Utomo, MBA., said there were ten drugs and medical products currently being applied for patent rights. “There are ten products being in patent processes while the heart stent has not been released,” he said.
Ade Tarya Hidayat appreciated the initiative taken by UGM to collaborate with Aspaki in supporting the production of such devices. According to Ade, Indonesia has yet to catch up with other countries in terms of the device production. “I salute the STP UGM for its real results, hopefully they can inspire other universities, too,” he said.
Furthermore, UGM conducted Industry gathering of UGM Science Techno Park which invited resource person Product Manager of PT Kimia Farma, Rita Purnamasari. She said there were two UGM’s medical products being produced and marketed by Kimia Farma, namely GamaCHA as bone substitute material and Ceraspon, a drug to accelerate blood clotting and new tissue formation. “Both have been used by dentists,” she said.