Since obtaining a distribution permit on 24 December 2020, the UGM Covid-19 detector, GeNose, is now operating in several locations. Apart from train stations, such as Tugu Station in Yogyakarta and Pasar Senen Station in Jakarta, people who want to take a test using GeNose can now visit several Yogyakarta hospitals.
“GeNose has already been operating at Yogyakarta Bhayangkara Hospital and Dr. Sardjito General Hospital. Next availability will be at UGM Academic Hospital, Dr. Soetarto Hospital, Military Air Force Central Hospital Dr. S. Hardjolukito, and Covid-19 Emergency Hospital in Bambanglipuro, Bantul,” said dr. Dian Kesumapramudya Nurputra, Sp.A., M.Sc., as a representative of the GeNose UGM Development Team, Tuesday (9/2).
Regarding the cost of the GeNose test, Dian said it depended on each agency. His party did not set a fixed price for a single GeNose test with the collaborating agencies. “KAI (Indonesia’s state-owned railway operator) set IDR 20,000 for one test. We don’t know about the others, but it probably is around IDR 20,000 to 50,000,” he explained.
His party is now trying to make GeNose available at all health facilities in Indonesia, especially those engaged in Covid-19 handling. “To include GeNose in Covid-19 handling system is indeed not easy and requires further research and external validation. We are now still fighting for it,” he said.
Hence he hoped various authorities and the public would support GeNose to run smoothly, considering the benefits they would get from taking the GeNose UGM test.
“GeNose test is inexpensive, non-invasive, and easy. Thus, it is massively needed for Covid-19 screening. It enables us to detect positive cases quickly, and later have treatments, such as isolation, earlier,” he concluded.
Author: Hakam