Drug Prices Regulated By Ministry Of Health, YLKI: It's Right To Protect Consumers From Persons Who Damage The Market
JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has issued Decree of the Minister of Health Number HK.01.07/MENKES/4826/2021 concerning the Highest Retail Price of Drugs During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period. This decision applies throughout Indonesia to limit the highest selling price of drugs in pharmacies, pharmacy installations, hospitals, clinics, and health facilities.
Responding to this, the Chairman of the Daily Management of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) Tulus Abadi said that what the government, especially the Ministry of Health had done, was right. With this decision, drug consumers can be protected and not exploited by profit seekers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic as it is now.
"What the Ministry of Health has done is correct and should be done to protect consumers so that they are not exploited by rogue elements and losers who damage the market," Tulus said as quoted from a written statement by the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN), Monday. , July 5th.
However, he thinks that HET alone is not enough. According to Tulus, the government must also provide strict and strict sanctions for those who violate the predetermined price.
"So HET is not just a paper tiger and fails to protect consumers," he said.
In the decision, there are 11 drugs whose HET has been determined. The drugs are Favipiravir Tablets 200 mg Rp22,500 per tablet; Remdesivir Injection 1OO mg IDR 510.000 per vial; Oseltamivir Capsules 75 mg Rp26 thousand per capsule; Intravenous Immunoglobulin 5 Percent 50 ml (Infusion) IDR 3,262,300 per vial; and Intravenous Immunoglobulin 10 percent 25 ml (Infusion) IDR 3,965,000 per vial.
Next Intravenous Immunoglobulin l07o 5O ml (Infusion) Rp.6.174.900 per vial; Ivermectin Tablet 12 mg Rp7,500 per tablet; Tocilizrrmab 400 mg/20 ml (Infusion) IDR 5,710,600 per vial; Tocilizumab 80 mg/4 ml (Infusion) IDR 1,162,200 per vial; Azithromycin Tablet 500 mg IDR 1,700 per tablet; and Azithromycin 500 mg (Infusion) IDR 95,400 per vial.
Furthermore, health expert Elizabeth Jane Soepardi assessed that HET was indeed a solution to the problem of uncontrollable drug prices due to high demand. According to him, this is the government's task and must be assisted by the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) in carrying out its supervision.
In addition, he reminded the public to use drugs based on doctor's prescriptions that are in accordance with the required dosage rules. Using the drug without a prescription will be the responsibility of the patient himself.
"The doctor makes a prescription, meaning he is responsible, the prescription becomes evidence that the doctor is wrong," he concluded.