Eleven students of the Medical Physics Masters Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Indonesia (UI), have successfully received scholarships from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with a total value of Rp440,000,000. This scholarship is given in the form of training on the IAEA INS6022 national project titled “Expansion Radiation Medicine in Indonesia”.
Those who successfully received the scholarships include Asyifa Khoerunnisa, Fulki Fiarka Djoni, Parinza Ananda, Hany Yuliati, Jenni Natalia Corebima, Hendra Himawan, Rosa Desinta, Abdurrahman Aziz Wicaksono, Aulia Firma, Antonius Fajar Adinegoro, and Rohma Novitasari. The training program will last for eight months, from February to September 2025, and will be held at various nuclear medicine centers in Indonesia.
Dean of FMIPA UI, Prof. Dede Djuhana, Ph.D., said that this program is in line with the health sector transformation efforts initiated by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenkes RI). One of the main aspects of this transformation is the development of oncology center infrastructure spread across all provinces, with the aim of improving the quality of health services, especially in the treatment of cancer.
He further said that FMIPA UI is committed to supporting the program by producing quality human resources, especially in the field of medical physics. “We are very aware that the development of nuclear medicine technology requires quality and competent experts. Therefore, through this program, we are committed to producing human resources, especially medical physicists, who excel and are ready to support optimal health services for the community,” said Prof. Dede.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Medical Physics Study Program, FMIPA UI, Prof. Supriyanto Ardjo Pawiro, M.Si., Ph.D., emphasized the importance of the existence of reliable medical physicists to support public health services. In this training, students will be prepared to acquire clinical practice skills competencies, such as calibrating nuclear medicine equipment, calculating internal radiation doses in nuclear medicine patients, ensuring the quality of nuclear medicine equipment, and providing radiation protection and safety services in nuclear medicine.
“This competency will strengthen their contribution in supporting the development of nuclear medicine in Indonesia, which is increasingly important for improving health services. We are sure that this achievement is the beginning of a major contribution that can be given by FMIPA UI in realizing better and more equitable health services throughout Indonesia,” said Prof. Supriyanto.
With this training, he hopes that students will not only gain deeper knowledge and skills, but can also play a strategic role in improving cancer diagnosis and therapy, as well as supporting the development of the latest medical technology, in order to realize more efficient, accurate, and affordable health services for all Indonesian people.
Representing his friends, Antonius Fajar Adinegoro, one of the IAEA scholarship recipients, said that this scholarship provides an extraordinary opportunity for them to hone their skills and knowledge in the field of medical physics, especially in nuclear medicine. “In addition to gaining knowledge from experts, we also had the opportunity to build networks with various partner hospitals in Indonesia, which allowed us to better understand the implementation of nuclear medicine in health facilities and the challenges faced in its implementation,” said Antonius.
In addition, Antonius and his friends also hope that the knowledge gained can contribute to improving medical services in Indonesia. Moreover, with the knowledge gained, they can ensure that the technology is used appropriately, safely, and responsibly.
The IAEA is an international atomic energy agency that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, as well as to inhibit its use for military purposes, including nuclear weapons. This agency serves as an intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology throughout the world. The programs implemented by the IAEA promote science and technology, provide international protection against the misuse of nuclear technology and nuclear materials, and promote nuclear safety (including radiation protection) and nuclear security standards.
