Moreover, with the current coronavirus outbreak, that would need improvement in public health, the demand for medicines has increased.
Cikarang, Bekasi, W Java (ANTARA) - Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita has encouraged efforts to substitute imported pharmaceutical products with local raw materials to curtail imports, boost foreign exchange revenue, and maintain economic growth.

"The pharmaceutical industry is a strategic industry that will impact public needs. Moreover, with the current coronavirus outbreak that will necessitate improvement in public health, the demand for medicines has increased," Kartasasmita stated during a visit to the Research Center of Indonesian Modern Medicines in Dexa Laboratories of Biomolecular Sciences here on Wednesday.

The pharmaceutical industry is one of the industries that has borne the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, as 60 percent of the industry’s raw materials were imported from China.

The minister noted that the pharmaceutical industry is a non-oil and gas industry targeted in the development of the nation’s industrial growth.

"Hence, we laud Dexa Group's move to prepare for the downstream industry through the production of Indonesia's original medicines that clearly has 100-percent local content. This can be used for the National Health Insurance Program (JKN). We can substitute imported products while simultaneously encouraging exports," he expounded.

Indonesia's pharmaceutical company Dexa Group has begun the production of domestic pharmaceutical raw material (OMAI) since 2005, which originated from Indonesia and not dependent on imports.

Some 95 percent of the pharmaceutical raw materials in Indonesia are imported, with total import value of US$2.5 billion to US$2.7 billion annually. Most of the imports originated from China, reaching 60 percent, followed by India and other countries.
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