I invite ladies and gentlemen to conduct massive reform of the national health system, including drug independence and drug raw materials that we can realize, which we can achieve as soon as possibleJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) invited all parties to reform the national health system on a large scale, including by creating drugs and medical devices independently, to avoid dependence on imports.
Jokowi noted while opening the National Working Meeting (Rakernas) and Annual Scientific Meeting of the Indonesian Pharmacists Association in Jakarta on Thursday that currently, imports were conducted for some 90 percent of domestic drugs and pharmaceutical raw materials.
The president highlighted Indonesia’s profuse biodiversity on land and sea.
"Hence, being independent in the medicine and medical equipment industry must be our priority, and it must be conducted in an extraordinary manner. To this end, the strengths of the nation, scientists, professionals, and the industry should be synergized," the head of state noted in a video broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat.
The president pointed out that the large amount of imports to meet the availability of drugs and medical devices had wasted foreign exchange, increased the current account deficit, and hindered growth of the domestic pharmaceutical industry.
"I invite ladies and gentlemen to conduct massive reform of the national health system, including drug independence and drug raw materials that we can realize, which we can achieve as soon as possible," he stated.
The head of state highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic had given rise to a sense of crisis in the pharmaceutical world to boost research activities, conduct innovations, and revitalize the domestic industry of pharmaceutical raw materials to strengthen the manufacturing structure of the national pharmaceutical industry.
Hence, the domestic drug and medical equipment industry should rise. Indonesia's rich biodiversity can be tapped optimally to bring about this revival.
"Biodiversity must be utilized to strengthen community resilience in the health sector. Phytopharmaceutical drugs should also be facilitated to pass clinical trials and standardization, so that they become options for promotive and preventive treatment," he emphasized.
Hopes are pinned high that reviving the national pharmaceutical industry will strengthen the national economy, both for those working in the upstream and downstream areas as well as boost the welfare of farmers and micro, small, and medium enterprises.
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Translator: Indra Arief, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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