KPK Recommends Purchasing Large Amount Of COVID-19 Vaccine Awaiting Clinical Trials

KPK Building (VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted various studies quickly related to the handling of COVID-19 in the country in order to minimize the occurrence of criminal acts of corruption in government programs.

The KPK recommends the procurement of the COVID-19 vaccine which should not be done in large quantities and should wait for the results of the phase three clinical trial which is currently underway.

"In the procurement of vaccines, the KPK recommendation is for indirect purchases in large quantities. Purchasing large quantities of vaccines is recommended to wait for the results of the third phase of clinical trials," said KPK Deputy Chair Alexander Marwata at a press conference on the Achievement of KPK Performance in 2020 which was broadcast online at KPK RI YouTube account, Wednesday, December 30.

The KPK also requested that the procurement of vaccines must receive consideration from the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery.

Purchasing vaccines, he continued, should also first ask for consideration from the Junior Attorney General for Civil and Administrative Affairs (Jamdatun), LKPP, and BPKP. This needs to be done for analysis of existing purchase contracts.

Another recommendation submitted by the KPK is that the COVID-19 referral hospital facility can be improved for the treatment of patients exposed to this virus. In addition, the Ministry of Finance is also considered an anti-graft agency to reinforce the source of funding for COVID-19 referral hospital facilities, especially those in the regions.

"For the construction and improvement of referral hospital facilities for handling COVID-19, the recommendations given are in addition to the need for guidelines for proposing referral hospitals, the Ministry of Finance must emphasize the source of funding for the construction or improvement of COVID-19 Referral Hospital facilities in the regions," he said.

Previously reported, Indonesia had previously imported a vaccine from the Sinovac manufacturer from China, which is currently undergoing clinical trials before being produced. The number of vaccines imported some time ago reached 1.2 million doses.

Most recently, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the government would return to bring in Sinovac vaccine tomorrow. This vaccine is imported from a company from China.

"From the bilateral track, God willing, 1.8 million synovac vaccines will arrive tomorrow," said Retno in a virtual press conference, Wednesday, December 30.

With the plan for the arrival of this vaccine, Indonesia will secure 3 million doses of Sinovac vaccine in the country.

Apart from the sinovac vaccine, the government has also succeeded in securing vaccine supplies, namely Astra Zeneca and Novavax

"There are 50 million doses of vaccines imported from Canada and the UK each. We have signed a supply security signing from Astra Zeneca and Novavax today," said Retno.

Retno said Indonesia had contributed through the CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) to procure world vaccines.

Retno continued, this is in line with the principle that Indonesia has always emphasized since the beginning of the pandemic, namely equal access to safe and affordable vaccines.

"All this shows that Indonesia is not only thinking about its own needs but also contributing so that other countries can get equal access to vaccines," he said.