Luhut: Don't Try To Raise Drug Prices, You Will Regret

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan ordered the National Police to take firm action against perpetrators who increased drug prices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I think General Agus Andrianto (Kabareskrim) is a firm person. I still see an attempt to increase the price (of drugs), don't try it. If you want to try it, go ahead, but you will regret it," said Luhut quoted by Antara. , Saturday, July 3rd.

Luhut said Indonesia is currently in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The number of rising cases of COVID-19 and the number of deaths continues to climb. It even touched the highest figure on Friday, July 2 with 25,830 positive cases and 539 deaths, or the highest since it was first announced in March 2020.

Luhut does not want the high price of medicine to worsen the condition of handling COVID-19. One of them is the increase in the price of Ivermectin which can now touch the price of tens of thousands per tablet. Whereas the normal price of Ivermectin is less than 10 thousand.

Now the government has set the highest retail price (HET) for 11 drugs used during the pandemic to fight speculators.

"We can't have drug problems, oxygen problems, health problems, create hoaxes, we will act clearly. Because this is about humanity," he said.

Luhut asked the police to act decisively and indiscriminately in enforcement if it is found that the perpetrators are increasing drug prices so that their business licenses are revoked.

"I don't have any business with who he is, there's no backing-backing business, basically we just pull out the roots. We really can't play around. So we back up the Ministry of Health, because this concerns humanitarian issues," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police, Komjen Agus Andrianto, is ready to follow up on Luhut's direction. The National Police cooperates with the Attorney General's Office in drafting articles that can be applied to ensnare the perpetrators who are caught raising prices.

"We have coordinated with the Attorney General's Office in order to formulate articles. If there are things that are estimated to sell at a higher price, hoarding, we will enforce the law. The prosecutor's office will support whatever steps the Police take," he said.