Ministry Of Health Guarantees Supply Of Oxygen Cylinders To Increase To 575,000 Tons, Maximized To Java And Bali

Illustration-Oxygen Tube (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Vaccination Ministry of Health (Kemkes) Siti Nadia Tarmizi said the Indonesian government was boosting medical oxygen production and ensuring the availability of drugs.

"We have received a commitment from the Ministry of Industry so that the conversion of industrial gas to medical oxygen is given up to 90 percent," Nadia said at a press conference on the Imposition of Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM), Friday, July 9 as quoted from Antara.

Oxygen production capacity in Indonesia reaches 866,000 tons per year with an annual production utilization of 638,900 thousand. Where 75 percent is used for industry and only 25 percent is used for medical purposes.

Through the conversion of industrial gas to medical oxygen, Nadia said the amount of oxygen that can be obtained to meet national needs reaches 575,000 tons.

For now, the existing oxygen capacity will be maximized in seven provinces in Java-Bali due to the increase in COVID-19 cases by 6-8 times.

Based on data from the Ministry of Health, currently the total need for oxygen for intensive care and isolation of COVID-19 patients reaches 1,928 tons/day, while the available capacity is 2,262 tons/day. Thus, it is targeted that the Java-Bali region can supply 2,262 tons of oxygen per day.

Nadia said the need for medical oxygen has soared along with the increase in COVID-19 cases. According to him, the scarcity of oxygen stocks in some areas is more due to the distribution chain that is not yet optimal.

The government's strategy to overcome this problem is to increase the supply of oxygen and strive for faster distribution to areas with high cases.

In addition to meeting oxygen needs through domestic industries, Nadia said the government received assistance from the governments of Singapore, Australia, and China which consisted of health facilities and infrastructure including ventilators, empty oxygen cylinders, and oxygen concentrators.

The Indonesian government also ensures the availability of COVID-19 therapeutic drugs and continues to coordinate with the pharmaceutical industry to increase its production capacity.

The Ministry of Health also regularly coordinates with the pharmaceutical industry and its distribution network to monitor the availability of the necessary drugs

for handling COVID-19 in accordance with the COVID-19 management guidelines which currently use the 3rd edition published in December 2020.

"In the event of a supply bottleneck for imports from abroad, the Ministry of Health coordinates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant ministries to help resolve the supply bottleneck," he said.

Nadia also said the availability of drugs related to COVID-19 in the pharmaceutical industry and wholesalers as of July 9, 2021, namely 3.2 million Favipiravir, 11,000 Remdesivir

injection, 157 thousand Oseltamivir, 2.4 million oral Azithromycin, 163 thousand Azithromycin infusion, 543 Tocilizumab infusion, 7 thousand Intravenous Immunoglobulin, and 237 thousand Ivermectin.

According to him, the availability of medicines for COVID-19 is constantly being increased and their production is added to ensure their availability in the field.

Regarding the increase in drug prices, the Ministry of Health has reviewed the conditions in the field and has issued a Minister of Health Decree Number HK.07.07/Menkes/4826/2021 to regulate the Highest Retail Price (HET) for drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Let us collaborate with each other and support each other. People also don't panic by buying excessively both drugs and other infrastructure in order to maintain a balance and availability of drugs, especially for those in need," he said.