"We launch our first cooperation with the Palestinian food and drug monitoring agency. We are proud of being able to contribute to the improvement of our Palestinian counterparts` capacity," she said here on Monday.
The upgrading program highlighting a theme of "Strengthening Cooperation in the Field of Drug Control Through Knowledge Sharing" that the BPOM organized for the Palestinian officials was part of Indonesia`s South-South Cooperation commitment, she said.
The capacity building program was also part of the two countries` cooperation in health sector to strengthen the capability of the Palestinian food and drug monitoring agency`s officials, Penny Lukito told journalists on the sidelines of the event.
The first stage of this upgrading program is held from October 15 to October 19. It is simultaneously organized along with the convening of the Palestinian Solidarity Week in Jakarta, which takes place from October 15 to October 21.
The Palestinian Solidarity Week is held for commemorating the 29th anniversary of the two countries` 29th diplomatic ties, she said, adding that the BPOM has pledged to help Palestine since her visits to Jordan and OIC headquarters in November 2017.
During the upgrading program, the participating Palestinian officials were assisted to improve their food and drug monitoring skills in connection with the authorization for clinical examination and marketing; and regulation inspection.
The participants` skills in laboratory tests, vaccine releases, pharmacovigilance, and surveillance were also developed at the upgrading program, she said.
According to Penny Lukito, the cooperation that her agency is building with its Palestinian counterpart could be extended to sectors closely related to Indonesia`s BPOM authorities.
"This is our first cooperation, which will be run in a multi-year mode. In the future, we are going to have an economic cooperation in which our markets and our export and import activities among Muslim-majority countries will get better," she said.
She said the first year of this technical cooperation would focus on responding to challenges that the Palestinian people are facing in health sector, including limited access to generic medicine and self sufficiency in pharmaceutical supply.
As widely known as a leading producer of vaccines, Indonesia has a strong commitment to assisting other developing countries, particularly the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states, in developing vaccines, she said.
"As part of the Indonesian governmental body, BPOM is so interested in contributing to drug and vaccine processing activities, which will help improve the OIC member states` capability in the drug regulatory and production, particularly vaccines," she said.
Reporting by Anom Prihantoro
Editing by Rahmad Nasution
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
