Interest from Indonesia for screening programmes
30 maart 2020 • Deventer • 2 minuten lezen
Along with 170 Dutch professionals, Topicus colleagues went on a trade mission to Indonesia in early March. The focus was on cooperation, knowledge exchange and discovering implementation opportunities for smart healthcare solutions. As a software supplier and knowledge partner in the field of screening solutions for tuberculosis and cancer, we were able to make a valuable contribution to this mission.
During trade missions, we explore with major hospitals, among others, how they can optimise their way of early detection of diseases through screening. Of course, we do not do this alone. Other interesting Dutch healthcare solution providers are present on these missions. We explore with them how we can join forces to offer a suitable package to Indonesia, for example. It is also important to get a feel for the market. In every country, healthcare is organised differently and so is healthcare financing. That is why a party like FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, is also involved to provide long-term loans if necessary.
Trade mission
The trade mission was led by Sigrid Kaag, minister of foreign trade and development cooperation, and Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, minister of infrastructure and water management. Bruno Bruins, the minister for medical care and sport was replaced by minister of state Sybilla Dekker. Underlying the trade mission is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between VWS and the Ministry of Health of Indonesia. The mission ran partly parallel to King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima's state visit to Indonesia. The king and queen participated in some program elements.
Topicaan Margo Koster even spoke briefly with our queen
The mission took place in Jakarta and Surabaya. In Surabaya, health really is a top priority, mainly because of the very progressive mayor of this second-largest city in Indonesia. For instance, the hospital we visited in Surabaya is very progressive in the treatment of tuberculosis. Everything is reimbursed, even any adjustments to home facilities, and dietary supplements are provided as standard. Yet it is notable that they are not yet far advanced in the field of screening; there is still a lot of ground to be gained here.
Dutch screening programs across borders
Besides being in talks with a major hospital in Indonesia through this trade mission, we are also in talks with other countries. There is a proposal for a breast cancer screening pilot at a major hospital in Brazil and a start-up note for colon cancer screening in Kiev, Ukraine was written and the initial response is positive.
A working visit to Colombia is planned at the end of May as a follow-up to a trade visit late last year. Here we will further explore opportunities in cervical cancer screening.
Partnerships
With Erasmus MC, we are exploring an international partnership, where they will bring their expert knowledge in monitoring and evaluation of population studies to countries where we are active. Their very extensive knowledge of and experience in combating infectious diseases could also generate a lot of synergy.
In addition, a consortium of Dutch parties (including Topicus) is being formed to combat antimicrobial resistance. To this end, AMR Global has been established.
Impact with IT
We are happy to implement a screening platform through which we contribute to the high level of care because we want all people, wherever they are in the world, to have a high quality of life, for as long as possible. A platform not only for non-communicable diseases such as breast cancer, colon cancer, cervical cancer and lung cancer, but also for early detection of infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis. Screening for infectious diseases, extremely topical now by the way, due to the coronavirus.
Want to know more about our contributions to improving preventive care? Get in touch.
Would you like more information?
Visit the website of Public Health for more information about our screening programs or contact Ronald.
