BPOM: Optimizing The Discovery And Development Of Indonesian Natural Medicines

Head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) Penny Kusumastuti Lukito (Photo: Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak/Antara)

JAKARTA - Head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) Penny Kusumastuti Lukito encourages all parties to work together to optimize the discovery, development, and utilization of Indonesian natural medicinal ingredients by utilizing the development of science and technology.

"What is important for us is how we work together to take advantage of the potential that exists throughout Indonesia," said Penny at the Jamu Nusantara Workshop: Tracing the Traces of Empirical Traces of Traditional Medicines Made from Nature in Indonesia, which Antara attended virtually in Jakarta, Thursday, December 2nd.

He said joint efforts were needed to explore the potential and document empirical data for natural medicines, so that they could increase the added value of cultural wisdom and natural wealth through the discovery and development of natural medicines in Indonesia.

The development of science and technology can be used optimally to explore and improve the quality and competitiveness of Indonesian natural medicines.

Penny said that empirical data and documented information were needed regarding the efficacy and quality of natural medicines.

Then, from the empirical data, further research and development were carried out, so as to produce quality herbal medicines, standardized herbal medicines that had passed preclinical trials, and phyto-pharmaceuticals that had passed clinical trials.

Penny said that there are still many areas in Indonesia that have the potential for the development of natural medicines whose added value can be increased into quality herbs, standardized herbal medicines, and phyto-pharmaceuticals.

However, this potential must be discovered and developed to bring the greatest benefit to the welfare of the Indonesian people.

All stakeholders, including BPOM, researchers, and business actors must collaborate to optimize the discovery, development, and utilization of natural medicines.