TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Eka Hospital introduces ICIR service to support blood cancer chemotherapy

Inforial (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, March 10, 2023 Published on Mar. 10, 2023 Published on 2023-03-10T10:00:22+07:00

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Eka Hospital introduces ICIR service to support blood cancer chemotherapy

F

or most individuals, their immune system is their line of defense against bacteria, viruses and any foreign contaminants that may harm their body.

However, immunocompromised individuals do not have the same luxury, especially those undergoing treatment for major health conditions.

As part of its commitment to ensure the best treatment for its patients, Eka Hospital Group has equipped its hospitals with an Immunocompromised Isolation Room (ICIR) to ensure the safety of leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy for aggressive treatment.

The ICIR is a positive pressure sterile isolation room specifically designed for the chemotherapy treatment process in leukemia patients, avoiding the risk of infection from viruses, bacteria and fungi when the body is vulnerable after undergoing chemotherapy.

Eka Hospital Group Chief Operating Officer drg. Rina Setiawati explained that the ICIR was one of the services patients needed when undergoing leukemia treatment. At the same time, she continued, the ICIR room could also be used as a transplant room.

"The difference with general isolation rooms is that this is a room for decreased-immunity patients undergoing chemotherapy, so the room is especially and completely sterile," said drg. Rina.

Eka Tjipta Widjaja Cancer Center (ETWCC) Chairman Dr. dr. Sonar Soni Panigoro, Sp.B(K)Onk., M.Epid., MARS explained in a press conference that as a cancer service center, ETWCC going forward would continue to use modern and cutting-edge technology and comprehensive tools in handling cancer patient recovery procedures, starting from early detection such as Anatomical Pathology (AP) examination with same day results, which would speed up the diagnosis process.

In addition, the use of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan and Genetic Testing would increase the validity of cancer cell detection in the body.

Integrated blood cancer services for patients belonging to the three major blood cancer groups, such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma are also available at Eka Hospital.

As blood cancer treatment is complex and costly, not all hospitals in Indonesia, even in major cities in Java, such as Jakarta, are able to offer the treatment. However, Eka Hospital provides integrated services with sophisticated facilities and infrastructure, as well as a team of doctors consisting of various disciplines who are members of a solid Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT) with professional human resources.

Internal Medicine Consultant Medical Oncology Hematology DR. dr. Cosphiadi Irawan said that blood cancer patients were treated with aggressive chemotherapy in the ICIR treatment room to avoid the risk of viral, bacterial and fungal infections, as aggressive chemotherapy could compromise the body's immune system.

As an isolation room for blood cancer patients and for transplants, the ICIR is equipped with positive pressure air filtration using a HEPA filter, resulting in low pathogenic germ particles in the air according to standards from the Health Ministry. In addition, the room is also equipped with an air conditioning system that can guarantee sterility with the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) mechanism.

During intensive care in ICIR, patients will receive close monitoring while undergoing treatment preparations, including supporting examinations and consultations with relevant specialists to ensure there is no infection.

Blood tests, administration of drugs and intravenous fluids, body hygiene, exercises and body stretching are routinely carried out during treatment, and blood transfusions will be carried out if needed. In addition, as a form of improving its services, especially for cancer patients, Eka Hospital in the future will introduce proton therapy, namely external radiation therapy using high-energy protons to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells.

Proton therapy is a treatment for cancer patients in reducing side effects commonly experienced in conventional radiotherapy. This system works by shooting a beam of protons right at the tumor site, where these particles release their energy without hitting the rest of the body.

Compared to other treatment methods such as chemotherapy or even surgical removal of cancer, proton therapy is much safer and provides a better quality of life for patients during radiation therapy.

Drg. Rina Setiawati added that with the complete tools and technology that would be owned by ETWCC, Eka Hospital Group was ready to help Indonesian patients seek treatment at home so as to reduce the rate of patients going abroad for medical treatment.

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.