BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar said here on Wednesday that the initiative, which aims to anticipate global challenges, would help ensure better evaluation of foods and drugs. Further, the labs will also be deemed more credible when they establish a product's safety and efficacy, he added.
The lab improvement encompasses setting performance benchmarks to meet global standards, ensuring sustainability, and promoting digital-based work.
According to him, improving the labs would bring the national pharmaceutical industry to the fourth maturity level, or proactive level.
"We expect that next year, this is our goal, that we are listed as a WHO-Listed Authority or WLA. Not many are WLA, there are only 30. Hopefully, we can become the 31st," Ikrar said.
With WLA designation, the quality of labs as well as BPOM's credibility in evaluating foods and drugs will be higher, he said.
He further opined that it will also help improve the economy and public welfare.
Hence, the agency wants to involve its labs in other institutions' management, such as those belonging to the Health Ministry, National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), universities, and private institutions.
Ikrar is aiming to establish global cooperation, such as with the World Bank, but the plan is still in progress.
In terms of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), he said that currently, only 42 of the 80 labs are equipped to handle the research and development of such products.
According to him, the ATMP trend involves cell, genetic, or tissue engineering, which will be the future of treatment.
"Thus, we really need research centers, be it on campuses or at hospitals across the country," he said.
Head of the health research organization of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indi Dharmayanti, said that her organization will support BPOM's move to improve its labs. The initiative will boost the development of knowledge.
"We know that in developing technology such as ATMPs in Indonesia, it truly needs (such an initiative). Not just alone, but also a network everywhere, including in BRIN," she noted.
She opined that it is one of the things needed for improving science, funding, human resources, and facilities.
She said that her administration will support the research and development activities by providing funds for the clinical trials as well as offering financing to study ATMPs.
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Reporter: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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