Good News! Import Alkes Transactions Can Be Signed 18 Percent

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - Import medical device purchase transactions (alkes) in the 2022 Health Sectoral Electronic Catalog have fallen by 18 percent in the last two years. This happened after the government implemented an import substitution policy.

"In the last two years, the use of imported medical devices has decreased by 18 percent, from 88 percent in 2019-2020 to 70 percent in 2021-2022, we should be grateful for this good news," said Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin in Jakarta, Wednesday 21 December.

One of the decreases in the use of imported medical devices is influenced by the implementation of the third pillar of health transformation, namely the transformation of the health system's resilience which is currently being carried out by the Ministry of Health.

In these pillars, the Ministry of Health applies a substitutional policy for imports and freeze imported medical devices in sectoral E-Catalog.

The policy of freezing or freezing medical equipment products in E-Katalog is a form of sanctions for domestic producers who do not comply with the provisions for substitution of imported raw materials that are already available domestically.

As of July 2022, at least 5,500 drug products that violate the government's provisions for substitution of imported raw materials have been frozen by the government.

This effort was implemented to accelerate the use of replacement components from various sources in the country. The government targets the import substitution program to be reduced by up to 40 percent.

Based on data on medical device transactions in the 2019-2020 LKPP E-Catalog and data on the Medical Device Registration system, it is reported that of the 19 types of medical devices that are widely transacted, about 16 of them can be produced domestically, while the rest are still imported.

In addition to medical devices, increased production is also carried out on vaccines and medicines. Currently, seven out of 10 medicinal raw materials have been produced in Indonesia, three of which were produced this year.

In addition, seven of the 14 types of vaccines for government and tuberculosis programs have been produced in Indonesia. The seven types of vaccine antigens include BCG, Diphteri, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis, Influenza and Polio vaccines.

"While the rest, of the seven vaccine antigens (imports), five of them are already in the technology transfer stage to be produced domestically," he said.

The Minister of Health said that a number of medical devices, medicines and vaccines have been able to be met domestically. In addition, the manufacturers and permits proposed also increased in line with the needs in health services.

Budi said the increase in the production of vaccines, drugs and medical devices still needed to be improved as the need to provide domestic pharmaceuticals and medical devices continued to grow.

"The independence of this medical device is one of the ideals of the Indonesian nation. Therefore I cannot work alone, we must be inclusive so that what we dream of can be realized," he said.