BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar said on Tuesday that the initiatives include certification, technical assistance, research collaboration, medicine distribution, and the development of traditional medicine at the Defense Ministry-owned hospital.
He emphasized that the support is crucial for RSPPN to meet international standards covering clinical trials, good manufacturing practices, and drug distribution — all aligned with BPOM's regulatory principles.
Ikrar said BPOM aims to elevate RSPPN to the level of globally recognized medical institutions, such as Massachusetts General Hospital and the Mayo Clinic, through enhanced research capacity.
"World-class health facilities serve three purposes — as centers of healthcare, education, and research," he noted.
BPOM and the Defense Ministry are also working to gradually reduce Indonesia’s reliance on imported pharmaceutical raw materials, which currently accounts for 94 percent of the supply.
To achieve this, BPOM seeks to attract foreign investors for technology transfer while leveraging defense cooperation agreements facilitated by the ministry.
Ikrar said the research collaboration among BPOM, the Health Ministry, and the Defense Ministry in traditional medicine could unlock Indonesia’s vast herbal potential.
He noted that Indonesia has around 30,000 plant species, producing roughly 18,200 traditional medicines, of which 78 are standardized herbal products and only 20 are classified as phytopharmaceuticals.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said cooperation agreements with China and India allow Indonesia access to affordable pharmaceutical raw materials.
He added that Indonesia and China are also developing joint initiatives for traditional medicine research at RSPPN, which may later expand to other regions.
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Translator: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: Anton Santoso
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