Kimia Farma Denies Individual Paid Vaccination For Profit

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JAKARTA - The Corporate Secretary of PT Kimia Farma Tbk, Change Winarno Putro, denied that SOEs seek profit in procuring paid COVID-19 vaccinations to individuals.

Change explained that in principle this state-owned company seeks to support the COVID-19 vaccination program in Indonesia through mutual cooperation vaccination, both for individuals and private companies.

"We, as one of the SOEs, support the acceleration and also for the expansion of this mutual cooperation vaccination. So it is not for commercialization," said Change in a webinar discussion, Sunday, July 11.

Moreover, he said, the paid vaccination fee for this individual follows the provisions of the Ministry of Health. Accompanied by the supervision of the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP).

"Everything is open, both in terms of price components and so on and has been reviewed by an independent institution," he said.

It is known that state-owned company PT Kimia Farma has opened a paid vaccination service for individuals. This service is included in the Gotong Royong (VGR) vaccination program.

Kimia Farma has prepared 8 clinics in 6 cities for this self-vaccination service. The total individual VGR capacity of these 8 clinics is 1,700 participants per day.

Then, slowly, Kimia Farma will expand its reach, including to shopping centers in big cities.

The purchase price of the vaccine is set at IDR 321,660 per dose and the maximum tariff for vaccination services is IDR 117,910 per dose. The vaccine used in this program is the Sinopharm vaccine.

The purchase price of the vaccine is set at IDR 321,660 per dose and the maximum tariff for vaccination services is IDR 117,910 per dose. The vaccine used in this program is the Sinopharm vaccine.

This was criticized by an epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, Pandu Riono. BUMN said this self-vaccination was carried out to accelerate the target of communal immunity or herd immunity from COVID-19. However, Pandu sees another reason, namely wanting to make a profit by selling vaccines.

"Just say selling vaccines, don't say herd-immunity.... the hidden motivation for vaccines is mutual cooperation, not selling to help control the pandemic. There's no need to lie to @KemenBUMN," said Pandu, quoted from the Twitter account @drpriono1.

Pandu views that the paid vaccine which is included in the Mutual Cooperation (VGR) vaccination program should not be carried out. Because, according to him, vaccines are a public health support, not a product that is traded.

"The vaccine is a public health good, not a commercial product," he said.