The Problem Of Drug Scarcity In The Midst Of The COVID-19 Pandemic And Emergency PPKM, This Is The Solution From The Government

Spokesman for the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Jodi Mahardi at a press conference in Jakarta. ANTARA/HO-The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment/am. (Intermediate Doc)

JAKARTA - During the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of the Emergency PPKM, drug prices soared. People panic buying, this makes the price of drugs continue to be controlled. The government has taken a number of efforts to overcome the recent shortage of medicines.

Spokesperson for the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Jodi Mahardi in his statement received in Jakarta, Tuesday, said the government launched a telemedicine service on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, in response to the difficulty of people getting medicines in the last few days, especially for COVID-19 patients.

"Starting Tuesday, the government will release telemedicine in DKI Jakarta Province. The public can carry out COVID-19 swab tests in laboratories in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. If positive, the government will send free medicines to the person concerned," he said.

The next effort, Jodi said, the Emergency PPKM coordinator had asked the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo to immediately identify the problem of drug scarcity in the market.

The National Police Chief will place the police at the drug sales location, so as to reduce the potential for hoarding, which in turn could lead to price increases. "Many people also panic and end up preparing medicines, even though they may not be sick. The government also continues to ask pharmaceutical companies to fulfill this need," he said.

Furthermore, Jodi explained that the Ministry of Health is still and continues to coordinate with drug distributors to overcome the problem of drug scarcity. "And ensure this scarcity does not happen again," said Jodi as reported by Antara.

Meanwhile, the Director of Prevention and Control of Vector and Zoonotic Diseases of the Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, explained that the Government had determined the highest retail price (HET) for medicines to overcome price increases.

Nadia added that Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin and National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo had coordinated to overcome the problem of scarcity and high prices of drugs.

According to Nadia, there are several reasons why it is difficult for people to get medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of Emergency PPKM. The reason, he said, is because some are stocking up and some are playing in the market because of high demand. "Prices have increased," said Nadia.