Indonesia’s Vice Minister of Health, Benyamin Paulus Octavianus, and his team visited the Academic Hospital of Universitas Gadjah Mada (RSA UGM) on Saturday (Nov. 29). During the visit, the vice minister observed the Digital X-Ray Fluorescence Radiography device, the Direct Digital Radiography (DDR) Madeena HF100B-MDN 5612 A/B. This digital radiography unit is produced by PT Madeena Karya Indonesia in collaboration with the UGM Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA UGM).
The vice minister stated that the partnership between PT Madeena Karya Indonesia and FMIPA UGM focuses on developing technology and producing medical diagnostic imaging and screening equipment, particularly radiological devices.
The DDR Madeena system, he noted, is a radiography tool that can support medical screening services, medical check-ups (MCU), emergency care (extremities), and diagnostic services.
“Research conducted for more than 30 years, since 1990, by Professor Gede Bayu Suparta of Imaging Physics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada, together with his students, has led to this innovation. If everything here is declared ready, we will begin with 100 units,” Vice Minister Octavianus said.
While observing the equipment, the vice minister emphasized that his office is awaiting the assessment results from RSA UGM. Should RSA UGM deem the device feasible, the next steps would include production and trials in 100 community health centers (puskesmas).
Dr. Ratna Dewi Puspita from the Clinical Research Unit of RSA UGM added that based on the review, the DDR Madeena HF100B-MDN 5612 A/B device remains in the preclinical testing phase using mannequins (phantoms).
She noted that the radiography equipment requires further testing before it is ready for use on humans.
“We use special mannequins that resemble the human body. The device is used to photograph the mannequin, and we then evaluate the resulting images for clarity, visual quality, and interpretability by radiology specialists. All of this must be validated at the preclinical stage,” Dr. Puspita explained.
Professor Gede Bayu Suparta also explained that the DDR Madeena HF100B-MDN 5612 A/B has now reached Technology Readiness Level 9 (Tingkat Kesiapterapan Teknologi/TKT 9). During the assessment at RSA UGM, he said that once approved, it can proceed to TKT 9 in full.
“TKT 9 corresponds to manufacturing. At this stage, the requirements shift entirely to manufacturing standards. After this, the minister can order 100 units, and the process moves into the manufacturing level. It can no longer rely on small-scale workshops. The requirements are different, verification, certification, and more,” he said.
Through this visit, Professor Suparta expressed hope that innovation and development of domestically produced medical devices, particularly radiography equipment, will continue to advance. He expects that this technology will eventually serve Indonesia’s 280 million people through a more evenly distributed network of healthcare facilities.
“Until now, medical check-ups have mostly been accessible to higher-income groups. We hope this device can help change that,” the professor said.
Author: Leony
Editor: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Salma
Photographs: RSA UGM