Press Release

Makassar, October 18, 2022, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) handed over the pre-fabricated ICU to Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (MOECRT) and University of Hasanuddin Hospital (RS UNHAS), Republic of Indonesia under the Technical Cooperation Project "Project for Capacity Development of ICU Using Telemedicine under COVID-19 Pandemic".

The technical cooperation was launched on October 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, upon agreement among JICA, MOECRT, RS UNHAS, and University of Indonesia Hospital (RS UI). The technical cooperation's main focus was the capacity development of doctors and nurses in intensive care utilizing telemedicine system.

The prefabricated ICU, was constructed by JICA in response to the urgent needs in RS UNHAS during COVID-19 pandemic to increase the number of its ICU beds. The pre-fabricated ICU has 5 beds in the building, and conditions of patients can be monitored remotely from the operational room using the connection to telemedicine system. Previously, JICA handed over medical and ICT equipment to RS UNHAS and RS UI which will be installed in the pre-fabricated ICU.

RS UNHAS, one of the leading teaching hospitals in Sulawesi and Indonesia, will utilize the pre-fabricated ICU not only for the patients with COVID-19, but also for those with other infectious diseases. JICA expects that the facility can be fully utilized in combination with the output and achievement from JICA's technical cooperation "Project for Capacity Development of ICU Using Telemedicine under COVID-19 Pandemic".

Phase One (1) of "Project for Capacity Development of ICU Using Telemedicine under COVID-19 Pandemic" has ended on September 30, 2022, which was followed by Phase Two (2) which started from October 1, 2022. The second phase is going to utilize the knowledge and experience gained in the first phase, and further expand the telemedicine network to eliminate the medical disparity and strengthen medical capacity in the rural and remote area. In the upcoming phase, JICA is going to implement the activities in the field of ICU with RS UI continuously, and ophthalmology and obstetrics / gynecology with RS UNHAS based on the apparent needs.

In the handover ceremony, Kenji Okamura, Senior Representative of JICA Indonesia Office expressed his appreciation to MOECRT, RS UNHAS and other stakeholders for all the effort in implementing the project. He also stated, "We hope that, RS UNHAS, one of the leading teaching hospitals in Sulawesi and Indonesia, will utilize the pre-fabricated ICU not only for the patients with COVID-19, but also those suffering from other infectious diseases. We also hope this facility, together with the knowledge and experience gained through our technical cooperation will empower RS UNHAS in further enhancing the capacity of the medical treatment and education both in quality and quantity."

General Information of the Project is as follows;

Country	The Republic of Indonesia
Project Title	Project for Capacity Development of ICU Using Telemedicine under COVID-19 Pandemic
Duration	Phase One : October 2021 - September 2022 (1 year) Phase Two : October 2022 - March 2024 (1,5 year)
Implementing Agency	Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, University of Indonesia Hospital, University of Hasanuddin Hospital
Location	JABODETABEK, Makassar and South Sulawesi Province Area
Project Outputs	Through provision of equipment for ICU Telemedicine and other health-tech, training for doctors and nurses, and pilot operation of telemedicine between Indonesia and Japan, the project aims at capacity development of telemedicine operation and reinforcement of telemedicine system in the university hospitals which are one of the core hospitals in the region.

For further questions please contact:

About Project details:
JICA Indonesia, officer in charge, Hanum Hapsari
Tel.: +62-21-5795-2112 (ex.432)
E-mail: Hanum-Hapsari@jica.go.jp

About JICA Indonesia Office in general:
JICA Indonesia, PR unit, Putri Siahaan
Tel.: +62-21-5795-2112 (ex.222)
E-mail: PutriSiahaan.in@jica.go.jp