Trends Of Natural Natural Material-Based Medicines Support Health Independence

JAKARTA - Ahead of National Health Day 2024, the spirit to adopt a healthy lifestyle by utilizing Indonesia's natural potential is increasingly being echoed.

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia invites the public to see the great benefits of health independence based on natural ingredients that are rich in our country.

In this case, the Dean of the ITB Pharmacy School, Prof. apt. I Ketut Adnyana, M.Si, Ph.D., spoke about great opportunities related to natural resources that have the potential to support the independence of the pharmaceutical industry or natural ingredients-based medicine.

Indonesia has extraordinary natural wealth, both on land and at sea. This provides a great opportunity for us to live more independently healthily by utilizing natural ingredients," said Prof. Ketut at the Health Innovation Festival at the Jakarta Convention Center, November 8, 2024.

According to him, Indonesia's natural ingredients have the potential not only as a basic ingredient for drugs, but also as support for a healthy lifestyle.

Various types of medicinal plants, for example, have long flourished in this country and are believed to have extraordinary benefits.

Some examples can be seen from the use of natural ingredients such as watering and cinnamon in the form of herbal tea or traditional supplements that can be relied on to strengthen the immune system and maintain heart health.

Prof. Ketut said natural ingredients such as herbal medicines tend to work preventively, which means they can prevent disease before it appears, as well as improve overall fitness.

The natural ingredients work in the early or upstream stage, which is more towards prevention and health promotion. This will help us stay fit and away from disease," he said.

In line with Prof. Ketut, V Hery Sutanto, President Director of PT Dexa Medica, added that the government continues to support the use of local resources for health products from upstream to downstream.

By relying more on local raw materials, it is hoped that the community can obtain high-quality natural products that are not only beneficial for health but also have a positive impact on the economy, especially for local farmers and industries who process these natural ingredients.

However, there are still some challenges. Currently, some natural ingredients used in the health industry still need to be imported.

Therefore, the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) has now regulated that the pharmaceutical industry should prioritize raw materials from local sources.

"We want products that use natural ingredients to have high standards, ranging from quality, safety, to effectiveness," explained Hery.

This step also ensures that natural ingredients used in health products can compete with modern pharmaceutical products.

Dexa Medica has also released a number of phytopharmaca products made from Indonesia's flora richness. Products made from watering, earthworms, to local spices, have gone through in-depth research and have been recognized to the international market.

All of these products are based on Indonesian natural ingredients and are designed by local researchers, ensuring the quality and benefits that are in accordance with Indonesia's public health needs.