Luhut: 70 Percent Of Drugs Can Be Produced Domestically

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (doc, Antara)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that around 70 percent of medicines can now be produced domestically. So there is no need to rely on imported medicines.

"So during COVID-19, I just found out that almost 90 percent of our drugs are imported. Now I can report to you, about 70 percent we have made ourselves," said Luhut via the Indonesian Lemhanas Youtube channel, Saturday, October 24th.

He gave an example, paracetamol, which is a basic medicine, is still obtained by Indonesia by importing from India. So, when India implements a lockdown, Indonesia cannot do anything about it.

"Now we already have paracetamol in Cilacap. That's Pertamina's petrochemical," he said.

Luhut said, the pandemic condition made Indonesia learn to no longer depend on other countries, especially regarding drug stocks. Pandemic conditions have also made Indonesia slowly begin to be able to meet its own needs.

Luhut also encouraged the National Economic Recovery (PEN) budget to be maximized domestically. This needs to be done so that there is a turnover in the economy and absorption of labor.

"I reported to the President, 'Sir, all the funds that are issued by PEN, if it can be made domestically, are made domestically.' Why? In order to make an economic turnaround, create jobs, so that we can become independent," concluded Luhut.