Hundreds Of Employees Of Medical Devices Company Value The Minister Of Health Enriching Foreign Medical Devices Mafia
JAKARTA - The government is asked to review the policy on importing Medical Devices (Alkes), especially antigen swab devices, because the regulation on imported medical devices has enriched the Alkes mafia. For this reason, the government must have the courage to break the chain of entry of imported medical devices into Indonesia.
"Our demonstration today invites all children of the nation to support President Jokowi through the Proudly Made in Indonesia National Movement (GERNAS BBI) by eradicating the medical equipment mafia and imported mafia by refusing to use imported goods," said Action Coordinator Luthfi Wicaksono during a demonstration in front of the Palace. President of Jakarta, Monday 13 December.
Today, five domestic manufacturers of Medical Devices (Alkes), especially antigen swab devices, held a demonstration in front of the Presidential Palace. The five companies that held this action were PT Taishan Alkes Indonesia, PT Sri Tita Medika, PT Tjahaya Inti Gemilang, PT Intertekno Grafika Sejati and PT Penjalindo Nusantara.
Not only that, this action was also supported by the Coalition of the Local Medical Medical Workers Communities. In his speech, Luthfi encouraged the government to commit to using domestic medical devices.
In terms of quality, there is no difference between local and imported medical devices. Likewise, in terms of price, medical devices produced by domestic producers are much cheaper than imported medical devices.
"So, we suspect that the Minister of Health is enriching the Alkes mafia. An example of an antigen is Rp. 30 thousand, but the Minister of Health bought it at a. price of Rp. 86 thousand in the e-catalog," he said.
He said the purchase at this high price has the potential to harm state finances. Therefore, he asked the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) as the budget supervisor to proactively save state money so that it doesn't become a bankroll for this medical equipment mafia.
This is important, given the current state of financial difficulties. Furthermore, he supports Joko Widodo's government in creating jobs by using local goods produced by the country.
"All children of the nation are helping President Jokowi to eradicate corruption and the medical equipment mafia by buying locally produced goods. We are all helping Mr. Jokowi to create jobs for the national economic recovery," he stressed.
In fact, he is clear, President Jokowi's commitment to using local products cannot be doubted. In every activity, President Jokowi always campaigns for the importance of being proud of being made in the country.
"President Jokowi always says love domestic products, use domestically made medical devices. Our president also hates foreign products," he explained.
Unfortunately, President Jokowi's commitment was not followed by his assistants. In fact, some of his ministers are proud of imported products.
"We ask Mr. Jokowi, the BPK and the KPK to immediately save this country's money. Do not let it become an arena for the debauchery of the medical equipment mafia," he said.
In the same place, one of the orators, Sahala Pohan said that the policy of the Minister of Health which was pro-import of medical equipment was dangerous for the future of the national industry. For this reason, it must be prevented as early as possible.
"We employees have been laid off, while the Ministry of Health has used up the budget by buying almost three times the price for the medical equipment mafia. We need food, our families are hungry and unemployed. Where is justice as the people of Indonesia. We ask the President for help so that we can work back by buying domestic products," he concluded.