Usage of laser medicine gains popularity in RI

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's medical practitioners are expanding the usage of laser treatment, according to one ophthalmologist.

Rumita S. Kadarisman, the chairman of Indonesian Society for Laser Medicine, told the press yesterday that to further boost laser treatment the organization will sponsor a one-day seminar on July 22.

The topic of the seminar, which will be held in cooperation with the Cikini hospital, is Laser Application Development in the Indonesian Medicine.

"Our organization intends to spread laser medicine to paramedics and to the general public," Rumita added. "The usage of laser equipment here has not yet been very optimal because it is still unknown in the medical circle."

Laser treatment was first used in Indonesia in 1975 in eye surgery at the Jakarta Cipto Mangunkusumo central hospital.

The Aini eye hospital in February last year developed excimer laser for eye surgery. The surgery is to restore a patient's vision so that wearing glasses or contact lenses is unnecessary.

"The development of laser treatment in Indonesia was very slow even though the Society for Laser Medicine was founded in 1986," said Peter Hasan, the vice chairman of the organization who is also chairman of the seminar organizing committee.

"We want to spread knowledge of laser application and to up- date our knowledge about medicine," he added.

Rumita expressed the hope that Indonesians will not go abroad for surgery which we can be done here.

"We hope that laser treatment will reach all parts of Indonesia. We hope the provincial administration which has B category hospitals will give attention to this medicine," she said.

Peter added that the committee expects 40 hospital representatives to attend the seminar. He hoped the seminar could promote progress in medicine technology in Indonesia.

Remy J. Leimena, the general affairs director of Cikini hospital said that it had installed three laser machines.

According to Peter, laser equipment makes eye surgery much easier because it cures the problem faster and does not cause bleeding.

With laser treatment, a patient does not need a blood transfusion or antibiotics and consequently he or she will not need a long stay in hospital.

Leimena said the equipment can be used in several types of surgery such as dental, orthopedic, otolaryngological, and in ophthalmological surgery, especially in curing glaucoma and removing cataract. (05)