Holding National Conference, GP Pharmacy Strengthens Commitment Towards Drug Independence

General Chairman of GP Pharmacy, Tirto Kusnadi. (Photo: Doc. GP Pharmacy)

JAKARTA - The Association of Indonesian Pharmaceutical Companies (GP Pharmacy) has held the XVI National Conference which was held in Nusa Dua, Bali, on March 23-24, 2022. Several agendas at the XVI Pharmacy GP National Conference included panel discussions with stakeholders including the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM), the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Indonesia, and the Government Goods/Services Procurement Policy Institute as well as the election of the General Chairperson for the period 2022-2027.

In the National Conference, Tirto Kusnadi was re-elected as General Chair for the 2022-2027 term of office.

The XVI Pharmacy GP National Conference was opened with a keynote speech from the Indonesian Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, and remarks from the Head of BPOM, Penny K. Lukito. This was followed by a panel discussion session with the Director-General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Lucia Rizka Andalucia, Deputy for Drug, Narcotics, Psychotropic, Precursor and Addictive Substances Control of the Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), Dra. Rr. Mayagustina Andarini, Acting Director-General of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Textile Industries (IKFT) of the Indonesian Ministry of Industry, Ignatius Warsito, Deputy for Monitoring-Evaluation and Information System Development, LKPP, Gatot Pambudhi Poetranto, and guided by Moderator Executive Director of GP Pharmacy Indonesia Elfiano Rizaldi.

General Chairperson of GP Pharmacy, Tirto Kusnadi said, the holding of the XVI Pharmacy GP National Conference further strengthens the commitment of health and pharmaceutical industry players who are members of GP Pharmacy to realize national health independence by ensuring the availability of drugs and vitamins in 34 provinces throughout Indonesia. By involving 160 pharmaceutical factories that produce approximately 2.000 types of medicinal substances and the strength of their member distribution channels, GP Pharmacy is optimistic that it can contribute to reducing dependence on imported drugs.

Through the National Conference, GP Pharmacy together with related Ministries and Institutions have also strengthened their commitment to strategic cooperation in an effort to meet domestic drug needs.

"Support from Ministries and Institutions is very important to continue to be pursued in the future. At the GP Pharmacy National Conference, the Ministry of Health said it would provide non-fiscal facilities in the form of clinical trial financing for the pharmaceutical industry innovators. This is one thing that we welcome. Not only that, but GP Pharmacy will also increase strategic partnerships with academia, industries that can strengthen the pharmaceutical industry in terms of research, raw materials and formulations," said Tirto in his statement, quoted Monday, March 28.

As a priority program for the management of GP Pharmacy for the 2022-2027 period, one of them is strengthening coordination and communication with the Management and members of GP Pharmacy spread across 34 provinces throughout Indonesia. This is intended to overcome problems that arise in the region in order to achieve drug independence as aspired by all members.

According to data from the Ministry of Industry, there are currently four state-owned pharmaceutical companies (BUMN), 199 private pharmaceutical companies, and 24 multinational pharmaceutical companies in the national pharmaceutical industry, which currently control 89 percent of the country's drug supply. The innovations and investments that have been made by the pharmaceutical industry players have become the fundamental foundation for building an independent Health ecosystem that is in line with Indonesia's initiatives that will be carried out at the G20 Summit in Bali later this year.

"The industrial growth in 2021, which was 10.81 percent with a transaction value of up to IDR 95 trillion, both sales and distribution of pharmaceutical products is an encouraging achievement. However, we also see that the potential is still large considering the per capita expenditure of the Indonesian population for products. Pharmaceuticals are still lower than other countries in Southeast Asia and other peer countries. Along with the increasing awareness of the Indonesian people on the importance of maintaining health after this pandemic, it is hoped that it will also become a positive catalyst for the growth of the national pharmaceutical industry," concluded Tirto.