BPOM Blocks Ivermectin From PT Harsen Laboratories Factory, What's Up?

Illustration (James Yarema on Unsplash)

JAKARTA - PT Harsen Laboratories admitted that the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) blocked ivermectin from its factory. This blocking has been done for three days.

It is known, recently, the government has allowed the use of ivermectin or this worm medicine as a therapy for COVID-19 patients.

Marketing Director of PT Harsen Laboratories Riyo Kristian Utomo said the blocking was carried out after BPOM conducted a sudden inspection of the factory.

"They hang out for days checking all invoices at the factory. It seems they don't want this drug to be circulated and used to fight COVID-19," Riyo said in his statement, Friday, July 2.

Riyo considered that what BPOM had done had disrupted the performance of factory employees and harmed the company. In fact, Riyo accused BPOM of hampering the government's efforts to protect the public from COVID-19.

"We question BPOM's intention to inhibit the distribution of Ivermectine as a people's weapon in the fight against COVID-19," he said.

"Why does BPOM seem to be sabotaging the President's order? Is it not clear what SOE Minister Erick Thohir and Head of KSP Moeldoko want that ivermectine can be immediately used by the people against COVID?" peck him.

The government has started promoting the drug ivermectin for the treatment and therapy of COVID-19 patients. BPOM has also issued an approval for the implementation of clinical trials (PPUK) for the drug Ivermectin.

However, BPOM urges the public not to buy Ivermectin carelessly. This drug is also included in the hard drug class, so its use must be with a doctor's prescription.

The person who pioneered the use of ivermectin for COVID-19 patients was the General Chair of the Indonesian Farmers' Association (HKTI) Moeldoko. The Presidential Chief of Staff admitted that his party had distributed Ivermectin to a number of areas.

He also claimed that Ivermectin was effective in treating COVID-19 patients, including those in Depok to East Semarang. Ivermectin, which is known as an anthelmintic, is claimed to be able to reduce COVID-19 cases in East Semarang, Sragen, and Kudus.

"In the City of Tangerang, East Jakarta, Depok, Bekasi, the efficacy level in almost all regions is approaching 100 percent for reducing COVID-19. Looking at this temporary data, we are quite optimistic that Ivermectin can be an effective drug solution to cure COVID-19 patients," said Moeldoko on Monday, June 28.

Moeldoko revealed the reason he distributed Ivermectin. According to him, this is due to the condition of the spread of COVID-19 which is currently increasingly widespread and continues to increase. Therefore, he dared to share Ivermectin as an alternative that was proven to be effective.