UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga Hospital (RSUA) held a symposium and international workshop on Friday, August 9. The activity was a continuation of the collaboration between RSUA and Saint Mary’s Hospital in Japan.
It was held at Dharmawangsa Hall on 8th floor of RSUA. The symposium invited eight Japanese practitioners and academics as speakers. They were Dr. Daisaku Urabe; Dr. Harumichi Higashi; Mr. Masakazu Nakashima; Mr. Taku Nikaido; Mr. Noboyuki Ono; Dr. Tomotaka Naramura; Mr. Yuji Nishikubo; and Mr. Tadayuki Kawasaki.
The eight speakers were representatives of Department of Clinical Engineering, St. Mary’s Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, Junshin Gakuen University, Fukuoka, Japan. In addition, there were two speakers from RSUA, Prof. Moh. Yogiantoro, dr., Sp. PD-KGH., and Prof. Mochamad Thaha, dr., Sp. PD-KGH., Ph.D.
With “Clinical Engineering in Hemodialysis” as the theme, the symposium was aimed to provide insight into the development of hemodialysis technology in Japan, especially to build a hemodialysis equipment management system in Indonesia.
Hemodialysis is a method of cleaning blood by removing excess fluids and substances that are harmful to the body through dialysis devices to replace the function of kidney. This method is done if the kidney cannot perform its function properly, or called kidney failure.
RSUA and Saint Mary’s Hospital have collaborated since 2017, especially in the field of clinical engineering development. St. Mary’s Hospital offers training assistance to technicians in the field of hemodialysis from RSUA. In addition, the initiation received support from the Japanese government in the form of financial assistance that reaches 60,000 USD.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Amin, dr., Sp. P (K), Vice Director of RSUA for education and research, explained that St. Mary Hospital initiated this to assist the development of human resources for hemodialysis technicians in Indonesia that have not been optimal. At RSUA, there are only about four hemodialysis units. However, the plan will be expanded to thirty units.
“They also submitted proposals to the Japanese government, and finally managed to get a grant. These funds will then be used to increase the capacity building of our technicians. Everything is fully funded by St. Mary’s Hospital, ” he explained.
Even for the symposium, Prof. Amin admitted that RSUA did not spend a dime. It is planned that RSUA will send two representatives to receive training in Japan in September. There, they will learn about hemodialysis technology and management at St. Mary’s Hospital which is already well known and recognized for its quality in the world. St. Mary’s has contributed greatly to the development of the world of health in developing countries. One of them is in Indonesia.
“Of course this kind of activity is very useful. Moreover, their main goal is to develop their human resources first, “said Prof. Amin.
“We have not confirmed whether they will also provide assistance in the form of medical equipment. That’s not the most important, the knowledge is. In order to improve the quality of hemodialysis technicians in Indonesia,” he added. (*)
Author: Zanna Afia Deswari
Editor: Feri Fenoria Rifa’i
