During the virtual National Forum of Health Device Industry Self-Reliant and Resiliency, originating from here on Monday, Sadikin said that the spending came from individuals, private companies, state-owned enterprises, and the regional and central governments.
The majority of the spending was used to pay for health services provided by doctors and the use of health devices, he informed.
This shows the large business potential in Indonesia's health sector, Sadikin said.
It would be a shame if this business potential is not tapped through the creation of manufacturing capacity or by the domestic industry, especially in the health sector, he added.
This would provide an opportunity for Indonesian entrepreneurs to open businesses in the health sector, which would also create jobs for the Indonesian workforce, he elaborated.
Within the last five years, since President Joko Widodo issued his instruction regarding domestic health device production, the Health Ministry has issued 9,400 circulation permits for domestic health products, Sadikin disclosed.
"I have personally witnessed that, during the pandemic, several primary health devices can be produced domestically. Many personal protection device factories are starting to produce (their products) locally," he added.
The demand for health devices should be seen as an opportunity for the health device industry to become more aggressive in building domestic production capacity, the minister said.
"Because it is through this that Indonesia's economy will move and Indonesia will be a bigger, stronger nation," Sadikin asserted.
The minister also said he would ensure that the Health Ministry implements an affirmative policy toward domestic health device producers.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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