JAKARTA - SOE Minister Erick Thohir denounced the skyrocketing drug prices amid high demand as a preventive and curative therapy for COVID-19. Therefore, he ordered the state-owned pharmaceutical companies, Indofarma and Kimia Farma to ensure the availability of medicines including Ivermectin which are currently in clinical trials at affordable prices to the public.
"The prices in the market are currently very painful for the people in the midst of high demand and the number of COVID-19 patients who have died. Therefore, I have ordered Kimia Farma to immediately market Ivermectin at prices according to the regulations of the Ministry of Health and BPOM and can only be obtained with a doctor's prescription," said Minister Erick Thohir when checking the availability of ivermectin at three Kimia Farma pharmacies in Jakarta, Monday, July 5.
In addition to guaranteeing the availability of drugs for healing therapy at affordable prices, Erick Thohir also hopes that people will be wiser in meeting the needs of these drugs by not buying them freely or getting them without a doctor's prescription.
"The public must be wise and understand that drugs for therapy related to COVID-19 cannot be bought freely and without a doctor's prescription. They can get them directly at hospital and clinic installations, as well as in Kimia Farma and other pharmacy networks. Because this has become a stipulation, then report if there is a violation," explained the Minister of SOEs.
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Erick also ordered Kimia Farma to carry out internal supervision in SOEs and promised to take firm action indiscriminately and condemn any individual Kimia Farma, Indofarma, or state-owned companies who hoard for personal gain.
"Indofarma is increasing Ivermectin production from its current capacity of 4.5 million tablets per month to 13.8 million tablets per month in August 2021. Although Indofarma is able to produce in large quantities, we are still committed to following the rules and standards set, including the clinical trial process. We continue to coordinate intensively with BPOM and the Ministry of Health," he said.
Currently, Ivermectin, for example, is gradually available at Kimia Farma and others. The price has been set at Rp7,885 per item, including VAT, as the Highest Retail Price (HET) in accordance with the provisions of the Ministry of Health.
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