Jakarta, CNN Indonesia - Minister of Research and Technology (Menristek) Bambang PS Brodjonegoro expects research, development, study and application of technology in the future that can focus on efforts to replace imported materials in handling the COVID-19 corona virus in the country.
"It still depends on imports, one of which is the material of 'rapid test'. There is an ingredient that still needs to be imported for antigens, this could be one of the studies on how we make materials 'rapid tests' domestically," Bambang said, quoting Antara.
The Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) said that in addition to the antigen material in the rapid test kit, what was still imported was the reagent used for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Even though PCR examination is always used in establishing the diagnosis of Covid-19.
Reagents are still 100 percent ordered from abroad. The need for reagents will always be there especially in detecting the Corona virus that causes Covid-19 by using the PCR method.
"We hope that the researchers will start looking for ways and produce innovations related to reagents," said Bambang.
In addition, PCR machines are also currently 100 percent imported. Therefore, Bambang encouraged researchers or academics who have the expertise or basic knowledge related to PCR machines to begin to seek innovation and research to be able to produce PCR machines made by the nation's children.
Bambang hopes that the results of research and innovation in the country can help handling COVID-19 both to suppress the spread of COVID-19, deal with COVID-19 patients, restore the nation's economy and build community readiness for adaptation of new habits.
"So that economic activity can run productively by maintaining health amid a pandemic," he said.
Research, development, assessment and application of technology activities are also directed to achieve what is not yet mastered or that needs further development.
Researchers can produce supplements that can help increase the body's resistance to the possibility of being infected with Covid-19, drugs, therapeutic treatments, stem cells and other fields that are useful for handling Covid-19 in the country.
