Luhut Pandjaitan Warns Drug Entrepreneurs, Will Not Lower Prices Will Be Raided

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said his party would take firm steps against drug entrepreneurs and importers. If within three days there is still a shortage of medicines, the government will raid all drug warehouses.

Coordinating Minister Luhut said the government would also take firm action against drug sellers who take advantage of increasing drug prices amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I emphasize that if in the next three days we still get signs that prices are quite high or there is a shortage, then we will take decisive steps and raid all of their warehouses that we have identified," he said in a virtual press conference, Monday, July 5th.

Not playing around with this threat, Luhut also asked the National Police Chief to Kajati to conduct patrols to drug warehouses to ensure entrepreneurs and importers do not hoard drugs.

"So at the latest I repeat Wednesday (July 7), so Thursday there should not be a shortage. We must not be governed by greedy people, I emphasize this and we must act decisively. And we have warned and did not hear our warning, We will act decisively," he said.

Luhut said the regulation on the highest retail price for medicines for handling the COVID-19 pandemic had been carefully drawn up and calculated. Coordinating Minister Luhut ensured that the company would not be harmed.

"But don't take advantage of the community's difficulties. I saw, for example, that Ivermectin was valued at several tens of thousands, when in fact the price was below Rp. 10,000 and there was already a margin there. So everyone, I ask that it be reasonable and the profits are accepted by the community. manufacturers and distributors," he said.

Luhut said the government has also anticipated drug importers, so that they can send drugs directly from the factory. This is to ensure that there is no longer a shortage of drugs.

"Once again I urge those of you who produce drugs or who import drugs, for you guys have been profitable for this 1.5 years. But enough, enough is enough, now we are in a state of emergency Emergency PPKM. That's enough, obey the regulations made by the Minister of Health ," he said.

Luhut emphasized that the government is doing this for the interests of the Indonesian people, especially people who are suffering from COVID-19. Therefore, he asked entrepreneurs not to take profits continuously.