REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto purchased the Indonesian Ventilator (Vent-I) created by Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) lecturer Syarif Hidayat. According to Prabowo, the ventilator, created by the ITB alumnus, is very strategic in helping Covid-19 patients recover. He is very proud that there are Indonesians who are capable of making ventilators, which are currently in great demand by various hospitals.<\/p>\n
According to Prabowo, ventilators are the most needed equipment in all countries in the world, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. \"So, the price of ventilators in the world is extraordinary, I could say crazy, initially the price was 6,000 US dollars, increased to 8,000 dollars, now tens of thousands of dollars, sometimes even unavailable,\" said Prabowo when receiving the handover of Vent-I from\u00a0Syarif Hidayat<\/a>\u00a0at the Ministry of Defense (Kemenhan), Jakarta, Tuesday (5\/5).<\/p>\n According to Prabowo, Indonesia is fortunate to have a patriotic Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) alumnus capable of producing ventilators locally. He admitted to receiving information that the Vent-I production cost is under US$1,000, or less than Rp 15 million. According to Prabowo, several hospitals are currently in dire need of ventilators to help treat coronavirus patients.<\/p>\n To that end, his team is ready to order 1,000 Vent-I models created by Syarif Hidayat to be distributed to hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Defense and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), which are currently in dire need of ventilators. \"But I also received a report that in a few days they will succeed in making an even more sophisticated ventilator. The price is more expensive, but not as expensive as abroad, the price is Rp 25 million, abroad it can be hundreds of millions,\" said the former Kostrad commander.<\/p>\n Prabowo also praised Syarif Hidayat for creating a device that could be a solution for treating COVID-19 patients. He continued, saying that mass production of Vent-I could increase optimism and reduce fear and panic, as it is vital in helping the healing process for COVID-19 patients. \"Our nation, if there is a crisis or\u00a0kepepet<\/em>\u00a0\"You can make this. I'm proud that all your products can be purchased,\" Prabowo said.<\/p>\n Vent-I initiator Syarif Hidayat stated that his team could initially produce 600 ventilators, funded by public donations. All of the ventilators would be donated to various hospitals in need, including those under the Ministry of Defense. Syarif also revealed that within two weeks, production of 600 ventilators could be realized and handed over to the Ministry of Defense.<\/p>\n \"We dedicate this device to the soldiers. With this, I hope that doctors, medical personnel, and other personnel can win the war in the Covid-19 pandemic, and that our nation can emerge from this problem, and that society can return to normal life with dignity,\" said the ITB electrical engineering and informatics lecturer.<\/p>\n Syarif emphasized that with the Ministry of Defense's order of 1,000 ventilators, his office is ready to mass-produce Vent-I. This way, the need for ventilators in hospitals under the Ministry of Defense and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) throughout Indonesia can be met. \"Regarding technology, we have to feel poor; if we feel rich, we can just buy it,\" Syarif said.<\/p>\n