May 29, 2020 Mahidol University, in cooperation with National Science and Technology Development Agency, and Netbay Public Co., Ltd., held a press conference on “The importance of medical robot deployment and Mahidol University policy to support robot deployment in current situation” at Chalermprakiat Meeting Room, Chalermprakiat Building, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University. Prof. Banchong Mahaisavariya, Acting President of Mahidol University, presided at the press conference, together with Prof. Dr. Pairash Thajchayapong, Chairman of Academic and Technical Board to manage the spreading situation of COVID-19, Prof. Piyamitr Sritara, Dean, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Asst. Prof Weerapong Phumratanaprapin, Dean, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Assoc. Prof. Teera Kolladarungkri, Director of the Golden Jubilee Medical Center, and Mr. Pichit Viwatrujirapong, Chief Executive Officer, Netbay Public Co., Ltd.. On this occasion, there was a receiving ceremony of three HapyBot, the genius autonomous mobile robots for using in three affiliated hospitals of Mahidol University; Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute of Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Golden Jubilee Medical Center of Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, and Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University.
Prof. Banchong Mahaisavariya, Acting President of Mahidol University, said that Mahidol University pursues several important strategies to help moving forward and developing the country. Moreover, the university is ready to serve the knowledges to support when the problems occur; especially, during the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Also cooperating with public and private sector to further the research in order to alleviate the problems is an intention of the university. When the medical staffs have heavy workload dealing with the situation 24 hours a day, robotic engineering technology is really helpful. Therefore, they are now being deployed in hospitals working collaboratively with humans. The robots can assist staffs to reduce the contact with infected patients, track patients in ward, take care and aid the patients, deliver meals, medical equipment and medicine. These are significant and emergency factors to deploy this robot technology in order to reduce the risk and lighten the workload of staffs.
All these times, Mahidol University has developed many robots with the support from Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, and other related faculties, the result after testing was effective. However, according to there are several affiliated hospitals of the university, the reinforcement from private sector will be another important cooperation to assist medical personnel, and increase safety in workplace led to effective medical care.
