No Longer Imported, Kimia Farma Is Ready To Produce Its Own Antiviral Drugs For COVID-19

Illustration. (Photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - PT Kimia Farma Tbk will produce Avigan (Favipiravir) medicine to meet the domestic demand for COVID-19 antiviral drugs. This is in line with the desire of the Ministry of BUMN to stop imports of medicines.

Kimia Farma's Corporate Secretary ,ganti Winarno, said that his party is currently preparing to produce drugs for the positive COVID-19 patient. However, when asked about how much Avigan's drug production was targeted ,ganti did not explain in detail.

"Regarding production, we have prepared and all production will be used to meet the needs of the Indonesian government in its efforts to tackle COVID-19 in Indonesia," he said, when contacted by VOI, in Jakarta, Thursday, September 24.

Previously, BUMN Minister Erick Thohir said that PT Kimia Farma (Persero) was able to produce its own Avigan. Avigan is a medicine for COVID-19 patients.

In a joint meeting with the House of Representatives Commission VI, Tuesday, September 22, Erick admitted that he had called BPPOM to immediately issue a permit. Given the very high level of Avigan's need for handling COVID-19.

Erick assessed that by being able to produce it himself, then Avigan's price would be cheaper than today. If Avigan, Faviparivir, could be cheaper, around Rp. 20 thousand, "he said.

Apart from Avigan, which will be made by Kimia Farma, Erick said that PT Bio Farma (Persero) can also produce paracetamol. Erick assessed this was the right step in building the nation's health resilience in the future.

Erick also previously emphasized that Kimia Farma's move to produce antiviral drugs is the ability of state-owned companies to suppress imports of medicinal raw materials into the country.

"You can make your own. Because you can make your own, because you don't want to depend on imported raw materials," he said.