House of Representatives Legislator Criticizes Ministry of Defense: Good Intentions Aren't Enough, Vitamin Distribution Must Comply with Regulations!

Vitamin illustration (Pexels/ready made)

JAKARTA - Neng Eem Marhamah Zulfa Hiz, a member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), criticized the Ministry of Defense's (Kemenhan) decision to distribute 4.8 million multivitamin tablets to 100 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) or Free Nutritional Meal Kitchens (MBG).

According to Neng Eem, although the Ministry of Defense's intentions are good, the distribution of products categorized as drugs or health supplements should be carried out in coordination with the authorized agencies, namely the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) and the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM).

"Multivitamins are still considered health products whose use requires monitoring. So, even though the intentions are good, coordination with the Ministry of Health and BPOM must still be carried out to ensure their benefits are truly realized and prevent future problems," said Neng Eem in Jakarta on Wednesday, October 8.

The Head of the PKB Party faction in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) explained that, according to Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health and BPOM regulations, every multivitamin product must meet safety, efficacy, and quality standards and may only be distributed with an official distribution permit.

She also emphasized the importance of distribution supervision to ensure products are properly targeted and prevent misuse, especially when targeting specific age groups such as schoolchildren.

"Children and adolescents have different nutritional needs, so multivitamin administration should be tailored to the recommendations of medical professionals. The government, in this case the Ministry of Defense, needs to involve nutritionists and health authorities to ensure this policy is effective," she explained.

Neng Eem emphasized that cross-ministerial coordination is necessary to ensure health programs involving pharmaceutical products are effective, safe, and in accordance with national regulations.

"Public health, especially children's health, should not be used as a trial and error arena. Everything must meet standards," she emphasized.

Previously, the Ministry of Defense distributed 4.8 million multivitamin tablets to 100 MBG kitchens in Jakarta. The distribution was carried out by Deputy Minister of Defense Donny Ermawan Taufanto at the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Field, Ministry of Defense Building, Jakarta, on Wednesday, October 1.