Heartspan.ai, in Collaboration with RSCM, Leads Indonesia’s First Successful Implantation of the World's Smallest and Lightest Artificial Heart Assist Device

PRESS RELEASE

Heartspan.ai, in Collaboration with RSCM, Leads Indonesia’s First Successful Implantation of the World’s Smallest and Lightest Artificial Heart Assist Device

An unprecedented initiative supported by the convergence of advanced medtech, medical knowledge sharing cloud and agentic AI heralds a new heart failure management solution for more than 10 million heart failure patients in Indonesia

Jakarta, 5 August 2026 – Indonesia has achieved a historic milestone in cardiovascular medicine with the nation’s first successful implantation of the world’s smallest and lightest Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) on 1 August 2026 at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central General Hospital (RSCM), Indonesia’s largest public hospital and national referral centre.

The recipient was a 45-year-old woman with advanced heart failure and a severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction of just 14%, who experienced shortness of breath during light physical activity and had been hospitalized repeatedly due to heart failure. This successful procedure represents a major advancement in Indonesia’s capability to provide world-class treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure.

The achievement follows the strategic collaboration between RSCM and HeartSpan.ai, the heart longevity division of Borderless Healthcare Group (BHG), which was launched last week through the LVAD Donation Ceremony. Within days of receiving the donated device from HeartSpan.ai and completing the intensive clinical training program at Fuwai Hospital, Beijing—the world’s largest cardiovascular centre—the cardiovascular team at RSCM, with the support of specialists from Fuwai Hospital on-site, successfully performed the country’s inaugural LVAD implantation.

“Today, we are not only helping one patient—we are building Indonesia’s long-term capability in advanced heart failure treatment. HeartSpan.ai was established to accelerate the adoption of life-saving heart care innovations by converging advanced MedTech, cross-border medical knowledge sharing cloud and agentic AI. As Southeast Asia’s first successful implantation of the world’s smallest and lightest artificial heart assist device, this achievement is far more than a clinical milestone—it marks the beginning of a new era in cardiovascular care for Indonesia. It also lays the foundation for Indonesia to become a regional destination for high-quality, affordable advanced heart failure treatment, attracting patients from across Southeast Asia while strengthening the country’s position as a leading centre for cardiovascular innovation,” said Dr. Wei Siang Yu, Founder and Chairman of BHG and Founder of HeartSpan.ai.

Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous nation with more than 280 million people, continues to face a growing burden of cardiovascular disease and advanced heart failure. According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019, Indonesia has an estimated heart failure prevalence of approximately 900–1,000 cases per 100,000 population and records the highest heart failure mortality rate in Asia, at approximately 34.1%.

“The successful implantation of the LVAD is a significant achievement, not only for RSCM but also for the advancement of healthcare services in Indonesia. This accomplishment demonstrates that Indonesia is capable of providing advanced cardiovascular therapies that meet international standards through collaboration with global partners, strengthening the competencies of healthcare professionals, and leveraging the latest healthcare technologies. Most importantly, this milestone brings new hope to patients with advanced heart failure, who previously had very limited treatment options,” said Dr. Supriyanto Dharmoredjo, President Director of RSCM.

The introduction of LVAD implantation expands access to highly specialized cardiovascular care, reduces the need for eligible patients to seek complex treatment overseas, and strengthens Indonesia’s national capabilities in advanced heart failure management.

“Successful LVAD therapy extends far beyond the operating theatre. It requires rigorous patient selection, seamless coordination between cardiologists, surgeons, intensivists, nurses and LVAD coordinators, as well as structured long-term follow-up. Through our collaboration with HeartSPAN.ai and Fuwai Hospital, RSCM has established the multidisciplinary care model, clinical protocols and specialist capabilities needed to build a sustainable advanced heart failure program for Indonesia,” said dr. Birry Karim, Head of the Cardiovascular Department at RSCM.

“Our patient’s recovery has been encouraging. She has successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation and extubated at post-op day 1. Her condition has stabilized, and rehabilitation has already begun. While the post-operative period remains critical and requires close monitoring, these early clinical outcomes are very encouraging. This successful implantation demonstrates what can be achieved through meticulous surgical planning and multidisciplinary teamwork. We look forward to offering this life-saving therapy to more eligible patients in Indonesia,” said Dr. dr. M. Arza Putra, Lead Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon at RSCM.

Building on this milestone, HeartSpan.ai envisions a future where artificial intelligence, regenerative medicine and advanced mechanical circulatory support converge within an integrated ecosystem to extend life, optimise healthspan and transform the management of advanced heart failure. Beyond advancing patient care, this initiative led by HearSpan.ai and implemented locally through Indonesia.md, BHG’s Indonesia-focused subsidiary and the exclusive distributor of the LVAD in Indonesia, aims to accelerate the transfer of advanced medical technologies from China and other countries to Indonesia, strengthening local capabilities through specialist education, knowledge transfer, research collaboration and, ultimately, an introduction of advanced medical device manufacturing in Indonesia.

“By exploring opportunities for advanced medtech manufacturing in Indonesia, we hope to improve affordability and expand patient access to life-saving technologies, while supporting the long-term sustainability of Indonesia’s National Health Insurance, BPJS Kesehatan,” said Dr. Wei Siang Yu.

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For media inquiries, contact lani@borderlesshealthcare.com.

About HeartSpan.ai

HeartSpan.ai is a heart longevity division of Borderless Healthcare Group. It is the world’s first heart longevity cloud designed to democratize services, innovations and content from the best-of-class cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiovascular scientists, LVAD coordinators, innovators and other relevant allied health professionals to support heart longevity programs in hospitals, clinics, homes and resorts/hotels. For more information, visit heartspan.ai.

About RSCM

Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central General Hospital (RSCM) is Indonesia’s premier hospital and serves as the government’s national referral hospital under the Ministry of Health, located in Central Jakarta, Indonesia. RSCM aims to be a leading national referral hospital, excelling in services, education, and research that meet international standards. Established in 1919 under the original name *Centrale Burgerlijke Ziekeninrichting* (Central Civil Medical Institution), RSCM operates with 1,181 inpatient beds. The hospital is committed to providing comprehensive, professional healthcare of international quality; delivering universal healthcare services—both institution- and community based—through an Academic Health System (AHS); conducting education and research that produce outstanding medical and health professionals; operating as a “Smart Hospital”; and maintaining a hospital management system characterized by reliable and accountable governance. For further information, please visit rscm.co.id.

About Indonesia.md

Indonesia.md is the Indonesia-focused subsidiary of Borderless Healthcare Group and the exclusive distributor of the world’s smallest and lightest LVAD. Indonesia.md is positioned as the first-of-its-kind medical knowledge sharing cloud in Indonesia designed to enable healthcare as a knowledge-based economy in hospitals, clinics and homes as well as healthcare as an experience-based business in resorts/hotels. For more information, visit indonesia.md.

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