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ospitals, especially those in developed countries, always strive to acquire the latest medical technology and equipment, a measure to improve services and treatment for patients as well as to increase their market share.

Many hospitals in Southeast Asia like Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, where thousands of Indonesians go for treatment and medical checkups, are also equipped with modern high-tech medical equipment.

Pantai Hospital in Kuala Lumpur for example, recently acquired a state-of-the-art system for radiation therapy, making it one of the world’s leading cancer centers able to offer patients Volumetric (3D) Image-Guided Radiation Therapy.

In Bangkok, the Bumrungrad International Hospital also operates a high resolution medical imaging device used for early cancer detection and improved diagnosis, and the Image Guided Radiotherapy, another new technology for radiotherapy treatment of cancer that was first introduced in Europe.

To raise their prestige and win the confidence of Indonesians, several hospitals in Indonesia have also upgraded their services with the latest medical technology.

In terms of devices related to radiotheraphy, for example, only dozens out of 1,134 hospitals across the archipelago now possess nuclear medicine and radiopharmaceutical equipment as of the end of last year.

But, according to Sri Indrawati, director general of Pharmaceutical Medicine, and Medical Devices at the Health Ministry, the number of hospitals in Indonesia that have nuclear medicine installations and radiopharmaceuticals
is still limited due to the prohibitive cost of the technology and lack of specialists to operate the equipment.

Nuclear medicine is a branch of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose or treat a variety of diseases, including many types of cancers, heart disease and certain other abnormalities within the body. The radiopharmaceuticals meanwhile are commonly used in cancer treatments.

Some other hospitals, however, have tried to install certain medical technologies to meet the growing demand and higher expectations from Indonesians.

For instance, Sahid Sahirman Memorial Hospital (SSMH) in the capital’s Sudirman area has the Minimal Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) technology, which significantly reduces the risk of surgical complications.

MISS uses highly sophisticated procedures and cutting-edge technology that reduces damage to the bone, nerves and tissues around the surgery location so that there will be minimal post-operative complications.

Using the MISS method, the incision is much smaller and results in less damage to the skin, minimum pain and a shorter recovery period.

In cooperation with Wooridul International Spine Hospital in South Korea, the implementation of MISS at Sahid Sahirman Memorial Hospital is expected to become a solution for those who suffer spinal and spinal nerve pain in Indonesia, whether mild or acute cases. No longer will they need to travel to a developed country with similar technology.

SSMH, known as the center of excellence for Urology services in Indonesia, also operates other advanced diagnostic equipment including mammography, ultrasonography, angiography diagnosis and Multi Slice Computed Tomography-128 (MSCT-128) medical diagnostic imaging.

The MSCT-128 is capable of all routine diagnostic work as well as advanced examinations in cardiology, neurology and oncology.

It is also suited for emergency situations like accidents, strokes or heart attacks requiring speedy diagnosis.

It provides full coverage of any organ in 4D. The speed of the scanner is faster than the beat of a human heart, which in turn produces spectacular images — providing patients with an accurate, speedy diagnosis. In many cases it eliminates the need for follow-up tests.

Similar equipment has also been installed at Pantai Indah Kapuk Hospital in North Jakarta.

In a related development, the Siloam Hospitals Group subsidiary of PT Lippo Karawaci Tbk was awarded last month with the 2010 Frost & Sullivan Healthcare Services Provider of the Year for Best Practices.

This prestigious award is in recognition of Siloam’s excellence in clinical care, process innovation, leadership in customer value, market penetration and growth strategy. Siloam is known for its medical and clinical excellence.

Its lead hospital is also the first and only international hospital in Indonesia that is accredited by the US-based Joint Commission International (JCI); only one of 20 such hospitals in Southeast Asia.

In a statement, Lippo said that Siloam would open its fifth hospital, the Mochtar Riady Comprehensive Cancer Center (MRCCC) next month.

This new hospital will also be the largest cancer treatment hospital in Indonesia and among the largest in Asia.

RSCM, the public general hospital, has also prepared itself with the latest medical technology and equipment.

When opening the Kencana Wing of the hospital earlier this year, Health Minister Endang Sedyaningsih acknowledged that many Indonesians still wanted to have medical treatment overseas, with some 12,000 people traveling annually to Singapore alone for medical purposes.

The number of Indonesians seeking healthcare abroad will hopefully drop after more hospitals improve their services with the latest innovative medical technology and equipment, along with proven technical expertise and knowledge.



— I. Christianto