Universitas Indonesia (UI) inaugurated Prof. Dr. dr. Al Rasyid, Sp.S(K), as a professor in Neurology, Faculty of Medicine (FK) UI, in a ceremony held at the IMERI Hall FKUI, UI Salemba Campus, Jakarta, on Saturday, September 28, 2024. The ceremony was led by the UI Rector, Prof. Ari Kuncoro, S.E., M.A., Ph.D., where Prof. Al Rasyid presented his latest innovation in the health sector in an inaugural speech titled “Inovasi Digital dalam Deteksi Dini Gangguan Hemorheologi dan Implikasinya terhadap Pencegahan dan Perbaikan Luaran Stroke di Indonesia” (Digital Innovation in Early Detection of Hemorrhagic Disorders and Their Implications for Prevention and Improvement of Stroke Outcomes in Indonesia).
In his speech, Prof. Al Rasyid introduced the Digital Microcapillary health technology innovation, a portable device designed to examine blood viscosity to help detect early hemorrhagic disorders, one of the main factors causing stroke.
“Digital Microcapillary technology allows for more accurate and faster detection of changes in blood flow. With this early detection, medical management can be carried out earlier, thereby reducing the risk of worsening acute stroke attacks and improving patient clinical outcomes,” said Prof. Al Rasyid. He also explained that this tool is easy to use, portable, and affordable, so it can be implemented in various health facilities, from referral hospitals to health centers in remote areas.
Stroke is one of the biggest health problems in Indonesia. According to the 2020 Global Burden of Disease data, stroke is responsible for 6.6 million deaths and 143.23 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) globally. Meanwhile, the BPJS report shows that the cost of stroke treatment in Indonesia has increased sharply, from 1.43 trillion rupiah in 2016 to 2.57 trillion rupiah in 2018.
“This tool has great potential to support early detection of hemorrhagic disorders and improve the quality of stroke care in Indonesia. With better monitoring, patients can get faster treatment, which can significantly improve clinical conditions,” he said again.
According to him, the implementation of Digital Microcapillaries requires a comprehensive approach, starting from the procurement of equipment to training for medical personnel to ensure accurate operation and interpretation of results. He also emphasized the importance of supporting infrastructure such as telemedicine to support long-distance consultations between medical personnel in remote areas and specialist doctors at referral hospitals.
“I would like to re-emphasize how important early detection of hemorrhagic disorders is in the development of acute stroke outcomes and their prevention in Indonesia. The use of Digital Microcapillaries offers a great opportunity to improve the quality of stroke care, enabling early detection and more timely intervention,” said Prof. Al Rasyid.
This innovation is expected to pave the way for more effective stroke care throughout Indonesia, as well as encourage collaboration between the government, health institutions, and the community to jointly improve the national health system.
Prof. Al Rasyid has published his research results in various international scientific journals. Some of his well-known studies include studies on blood viscosity in cases of ischemic stroke, chronic heart disease, and the potential benefits of anthocyanins in patients with small blood vessel disease in the brain.
Several important figures were also present at the inauguration ceremony, including the President Director of Prikasih Hospital, dr. Putri Nadia, MARS, and the Operational Director of RSUI, Dr. dr. Rakhmad Hidayat, SpS(K).
