USU PR- Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) became one of the educational institutions in Indonesia involved in the Robotic Telesurgery Project collaboration. This was marked by the signing of the Robotic Telesurgery Center MoU at Haji Adam Malik General Hospital, the result of a partnership between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The event took place online on Saturday, December 30, 2023.

The meeting was attended by the Indonesian Minister of Health, Ir. Budi Gunadi Sadikin, CHFC, CLU, and Deputy for International Affairs of Vice Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-based Economy, Dr. Amir Hosein Mirabadi, and was witnessed by Vice President for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-based Economy HE Dr. Rouhollah Dehghani Firouzabadi.

The collaboration also involved Hasanuddin University and Tehran University of Medical Science from Iran. As well as Haji Adam Malik General Hospital Medan and Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo General Hospital Makassar.

Robotic telesurgery is one of the uses of 5G networks that allows surgeons to perform surgical procedures on patients remotely and in real-time.

In his speech through a virtual meeting, Ir. Budi Gunadi Sadikin, CHFC, CLU, thanked the Government of Iran for its support for the expansion of The Robotic Telesurgery Center to Haji Adam Malik General Hospital Medan on the island of Sumatra and Wahidin Sudirohusodo Makassar on the island of Sulawesi.

“The development of the Robotic Telesurgery Center in Indonesia is the result of a beneficial collaboration between scientists, surgeons, medical professionals, and industries between the two parties,” said Ir. Budi.

Ir. Budi Gunadi Sadikin, CHFC, CLU, supports joint research and multicenter studies during this development for accurate healthcare outcomes. So, it can reduce the distance of patient travel, provide health services in medically underserved areas, improve surgical collaboration, and minimize the risk of infection.

On the same occasion, the Director General of Health Services, dr. Azhar Jaya, S.H, S.Km., M.A.R.S., explained that the Robotic Tele-surgery project aims to bring advanced tele-laparoscopic surgery to remote hospitals in Indonesia that lack specialized medical expertise. Through this project, Indonesia is expected to lead the local production of robotic systems and their instruments.

For your information, the Robotic Telesurgery Project involves professional collaboration between medical professionals, technology experts, and industry to produce medical-grade products. Referring to the success of the implementation of this project at RSUP (regional general hospital) Dr. Hasan Sadikin Bandung and RSUP Dr. Sardjito Yogyakarta will be expanded and adapted in Indonesia’s Eastern and Western Regions.