"We must stop using chloroquine on malaria patients," she said.
She made the statement on the sidelines of a seminar and workshop on Strategic Plans of Malaria Control in Mimika district 2011-2026 in cooperation with the Mimika health agency, Institute of Community Development for Kamoro and Amungme (LPMAK), and PT Freeport Indonesia.
Dr.Rita noted that there is now a new type of drug used to treat malaria, namely Dehydro Artemisinin Pepraquin (DHP).
DHP stock in Indonesia is currently sufficient for government and private hospitals.
"We have been estimating the need for the drug in Indonesia and the government guarantees supplies are suffiecient," Dr.Rita explained.
She was concerned about the condition in Papua, especially in Timika in which about 60 percent of malaria patients treated at private clinics lacks DHP.
According to Dr.Rita, in the future, private clinics and hospitals can obtain DHP for the treatment of malaria patients for free.
Charges are only for laboratory and physician services, while for the drugs should be free of charge as it receives government subsidy.
Rita added, the health ministry would discuss with other relevant institutions Mimika`s proposal on supplying pharmacies with DHP.
So far, DHP has not been supplied to private clinics and pharmacies for fear that it will also become resistant to malaria as the result of its uncontrolled use.
"Without a prescription, it will be very dangerous. We all must make sure to prevent this drug from becoming resistant," Dr.Rita said.
Meanwhile, head of the Mimika health office, Erens Meokbun said, DHP stock in Mimika is currently sufficient.
The use of DHP in Mimika in curing malaria has been conducted since 2006, however now it is only available at government hospitals, several health centers, Community Partner Hospitals (RSMM) belonging to LPMAK, AEA Tembagapura hospital, PT Freeport`s Public Health and Malaria Control (PHMC) and Malcon clinics.
"We are committed to using DHP. We received support from the government and there is now also a budget for Mimika for the procurement of the drugs," Erens explained.
(T.KR-LWA/H-NG/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
