President Jokowi Asks Ministers To Ensure Drug Supplies For COVID-19

JAKARTA - In announcing the extension of PPKM Level 4, Indonesian President Joko Widodo also asked the relevant ministers to immediately take maximum steps to help provide the needs of drugs, vitamins and supplements for the community, especially for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

"Specifically, I ask the relevant ministers to immediately take maximum steps to distribute vitamins, supplements, to the public, provide medical support and doctor consultations for self-isolated patients and support for treatment in hospitals," the President said at a press conference virtually, Sunday, July 25 at the State Palace, Jakarta.

The President emphasized that the death rate must be suppressed as much as possible and for areas that have a high death rate. In addition, increasing hospital capacity, centralized isolation and also the availability of oxygen need to be increased immediately.

"We must always be vigilant, there is a possibility that the world will face other more infectious variants, therefore I order that testing, tracing can be increased higher and the 'treatment' response faster to suppress the transmission rate and increase the cure rate," he explained. .

The President emphasized that the implementation of strict health protocols as well as increasing 'testing, tracing' and 'treatment' will be the main pillars of handling COVID-19 in the future.

"Wearing masks and maintaining distance must continue. Lastly, I invite all levels of society, all components of the nation to unite and work hand in hand against COVID-19. With our joint efforts, God willing, we will soon be free from COVID-19 and social and economic activities of the community can return to normal," said the President.