The Ministry Of Industry Reveals Why Indonesia Is Still Depending On Importing Drug Baku Materials

Medicines (between)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) assessed that one of the reasons for Indonesia's dependence on imported raw materials (BBO) is that there are still few natural BBOs that are commercialized.

Acting (Plt) Director General of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Textile Industries (IKFT) Reni Yanita Kemenperin said, Indonesia actually has a lot of natural BBOs. However, commercialized is still relatively small.

"We see from the research results that many natural raw materials are actually commercialized a little, yes. Well, that may not have been informed," said Reni when met by reporters at the Pullman Hotel, Jakarta, Thursday, October 17.

Reni said that researchers who conduct research on natural medicinal raw materials must also pay attention to the substance side. This means that it must be known how much capital is needed. So, it can attract investors.

"When investing in this, how much does it cost? How much do you buy the machine? Buy it. So, if it's drawn like that, investors will be more interested," he said.

Then, said Reni, when the natural BBO is commercialized, they must also be facilitated to immediately obtain a distribution permit from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).

"Right, if there is a lot of material, then it has standards, homework in the future, right, we want those who now use imported chemicals to be replaced with raw materials now," said Reni.

"But, the guarantee is that if you change raw materials, he will quickly get a distribution permit. Because it's called an industry, right, if he already has a name, for example, a cough drug that we have been drinking from chemicals, paracetamol, once we replace it with natural ingredients such as ginger, saga leaves, will he get permission quickly so he can sell," he added.

Previously, the Director of Kimia Hilir and Pharmacy Industry at the Ministry of Industry Emmy Suryandari said Indonesia was still dependent on imports for national medicinal raw materials (BBO). The dependence of imports has reached 90 percent to date.

Emmy said the import dependence rate was in line with the increase in national BBO producers in the country.

"Regarding the national profile of the BBO industry, thank God there are currently 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.