Ministry Of Industry: Dependence On Imports Of National Drug Baku Materials Reaches 90 Percent

Director of Chemical Downstream and Pharmacy Industry of the Ministry of Industry Emmy Suryandari. (Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) admits that Indonesia is still dependent on imports for national medicinal raw materials (BBO). The dependence of imports has reached 90 percent to date.

Director of Kimia Hilir and Pharmacy Industry of the Ministry of Industry Emmy Suryandari said this import dependence figure is in line with the increase in national BBO producers in the country.

"Regarding the current national profile of the BBO industry, thank God there are 20 industries. I say thank God because the challenges are quite large in the middle, currently our import rate of BBO itself is still around 90 percent from outside," Emmy said in the National Seminar agenda entitled 'Resilience and Continuity in Accelerating the Independence of Drug and Vaccine Raw Materials at the Grand Sahid Hotel, Jakarta, Tuesday, September 10.

Emmy hopes that the number of national BBO producers can continue to grow.

Thus, the import rate can be reduced in the future.

"We hope that 20 (BBO producers) can increase in terms of numbers and also increase in terms of BBOs that can be produced and I think with our enthusiasm all of this time, it is very possible that the pharmaceutical industry in Indonesia can grow to become king in its own country," he said.

In addition, Emmy said, currently there are 212 national drug industries spread across a number of areas, such as North Sumatra, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Lampung, Banten, DKI Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java and DI Yogyakarta.

According to Emmy, the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the factors in increasing the number of pharmaceutical industries in Indonesia.

"Currently, there are 212 finished drug industries and 20 BBO industries. This is a fairly good profile figure, meaning that since COVID-19 there has been an increase in the number of pharmaceutical industries in Indonesia. It is true that COVID is indeed one of the stages for us to finally make a leap," said Emmy.

"Because it turned out that we were being pressed by conditions, so like it or not, we had to adapt immediately so that we could solve the problem at that time," he added.

Previously, the Ministry of Industry noted that during 2018-2022 the import value for BBO continued to increase.

Acting (Plt) Director General of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Textile Industries of the Ministry of Industry Reni Yanita said the highest imports for national BBOs occurred in 2022, which was 35,890 tons.

"So, from 2018 to 2023 our import data showed that in 2018 to 2019 (there was) a decline. However, the increase was quite high in 2022. In 2022, overall imports of BBO reached 35.890 tons with a value of 509 million US dollars," said Reni in a Hearing Meeting (RDP) with Commission VII DPR RI at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, July 9.

Based on the data presented, the trend of BBO imports has continued to increase over the last five years or from 2018 to 2022.

In detail, in 2018 the total import of BBO reached 27,304 tons with a value of 332 million US dollars, in 2019 it decreased to 27,050 tons or the equivalent of 294 million US dollars.

Then, in 2020, it jumped again at 29,429 tons or 312 million US dollars.

Then, in 2021 it will increase again to 34,770 tons with a total value of 443 million US dollars.

Meanwhile, in 2022, the highest import figure will reach 35,890 tons or 509 million US dollars.

"Then in 2023, it was corrected again compared to the previous year. So, for the last five years, the trend of BBO imports has continued to increase," he said.