Jokowi Searched For Antiviral Drugs At Bogor Pharmacy But Ran Out, Called The Minister Of Health

President Jokowi checks the availability of COVID-19 therapeutic drugs in Bogor City (Presidential Secretariat Youtube)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo is looking for antiviral drugs and vitamins at pharmacies around the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java. Jokowi went to the Villa Duta Pharmacy.

Jokowi asked about the availability of antiviral drugs oseltamivir and favipiravir. However, it turns out the drug has run out.

"Oseltamivir is out of stock, sir. We also can't get the goods. Generic oseltamivir has not been around for a long time," said the pharmacy keeper to Jokowi, seen on the Presidential Secretariat's Youtube video, Friday, July 23.

Jokowi again asked about the stock of favipiravir. However, the drug has also run out. Jokowi only received vitamin D3 1000UI and a multivitamin containing zinc with the Megavite type.

Moving from the pharmacy, Jokowi immediately got into the car and called Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin. To Budi, Jokowi complained about running out of medicine at the pharmacy.

"Mr. Minister, I checked at the pharmacy in Bogor, I looked for the antiviral drug oseltamivir, there wasn't any. I looked for it again, the antiviral drug with favipiravir wasn't there either, it was empty. I looked for the antibiotic acetromicin, too. There wasn't any stock. It's been more than a week," Jokowi said to Budi by telephone.

Hearing this, the Minister of Health, Budi, said that he would check the availability of drugs. Not long after, Budi reported the availability of drugs at Kimia Farma Pharmacy, Bogor City.

"I have a record, we already have one online. I just checked. For example, for favipiravir at Kimia Farma Tajur Baru Pharmacy there are 4,900, Kimia Farma Juanda 30 Pharmacy is 4,300, Kimia Farma in Semplak Bogor is 4,200," explained Budi.

"There is online data at the hospital, it can be seen by the city for Kimia Farma Pharmacy, Century, Guardian, K24," he added.

Responding to this, Jokowi admitted that he would immediately check with the pharmacy that Budi mentioned. "Okay, I'll just go there, I'll buy it there," said Jokowi before hanging up the phone.