We are trying to incorporate phytopharmaceuticals into conventional health services in order to increase the use of herbal medicines in IndonesiaJakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Health Ministry supports the development of herbal medicines and phytopharmaceuticals to improve pharmaceutical independence and transform the health system in the country.
"One of the transformation agendas to support the health resilience of pharmaceuticals and medical devices is through the development of herbal medicines and phytopharmaceuticals," the ministry's Director General of Pharmaceuticals and Health Devices, Dr. Rizka Andalucia, stated at the Phytopharmaca Downstreaming Forum in Jakarta on Monday.
She remarked that the government's support is stated in Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health that outlines the role of natural medicines and phytopharmaceuticals.
"We are trying to incorporate phytopharmaceuticals into conventional health services in order to increase the use of herbal medicines in Indonesia," Andalucia explained.
Moreover, the government is establishing cooperation and integration of herbal medicine service centers between the Center for Research and Development of Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicine (B2P2TOOT) in Tawangmangu, Central Java, with Dr. Sardjito Hospital in Yogyakarta, she stated.
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This collaboration was carried out to expedite the use of herbal medicines in Indonesia. She is optimistic of this cooperation intensifying with other hospitals in Indonesia to introduce the use of herbal medicines and phytopharmaceuticals in other conventional health services.
Data from the ministry recorded that Indonesia has at least 28 thousand plant species and is home to 80 percent of the world's medicinal plants. Research results on medicinal plants and herbal medicine also show that Indonesians have used more than 30 thousand traditional herbs.
In May 2022, the ministry published a Phytopharmaceutical Formulary as a reference in planning and procuring phytopharmaca in health service facilities and as a reference for the use of phytopharmaca that is safe, qualified, efficacious, and affordable.
Andalucia remarked that increasing the use of domestic phytopharmaceuticals is also in line with President's Instruction Number 2 of 2022 that supports accelerating efforts to increase the use of domestic products and products of micro, small business, and cooperatives to succeed the National Movement Proudly Made in Indonesia (Gernas BBI) in the government's goods and service procurement.
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Translator: Sean Muhamad, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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