PCR Prices Drop, PDIP Legislators: Independent Indonesia Momentum In The Pharmaceutical Industry

JAKARTA - Member of the House of Representatives Commission IX, Rahmad Handoyo, appreciates President Joko Widodo's quick move to respond to the high price of PCR. Also the Minister of Health who conducts consolidation and deepens to the party in charge of PCR prices.

"I think it is in line with our expectations (the price drops, ed). We are grateful that this frenzy has received the president's attention. I think it is extraordinary," said Rahmad, Wednesday, August 18.

A few days ago, continued Rahmad, President Jokowi ordered the PCR price to be around Rp. 450 thousand to Rp. 550 thousand. Then, the Ministry of Health through the Director General of Health Services officially stated that the price for PCR for Java was Rp. 495 thousand and outside Java was Rp. 525 thousand.

"Because there is a transformation, logistics that causes differences between the islands of Java and outside Java," said the PDIP politician.

Rahmad realized that compared to yesterday, the price of PCR has decreased significantly. Moreover, before there was a government regulation there was a peg of up to Rp2-3 million per PCR.

"Commission IX has pushed and there is a limit of Rp800 thousand. Last year antigens were so expensive then PCR, especially the difficulty in bringing in reagents for the test, was extraordinary. Until now, it was one of the costs that was quite expensive when it was determined," he said.

Therefore, according to him, this is Indonesia's momentum to become sovereign in the pharmaceutical industry. The state, said Rahmad, should also not be dependent on imports.

"For decades, we have fallen asleep, 90 percent of the ingredients for medicines, vitamins and medical devices, 90 percent of which are imported. When there is a problem we will experience drug problems like some time ago. Most of them are from India but close exports. Now this is the momentum for correction of drug prices and as our momentum to be independent in the health sector through the pharmaceutical industry," explained Rahmad.

"Give the red carpet to anyone who wants to invest in the pharmaceutical sector. You don't have to wait for the pandemic to end," said the Central Java legislator.

It is known that the decrease in the price of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to Rp. 495,000 for the Java-Bali region and Rp. 525,000 for outside Java-Bali takes effect from today, Tuesday, August 17. PCR test results must be issued within a maximum duration of 1x24 hours.

The Minister of Communication and Information, Johnny G. Plate, said that the price reduction for PCR tests was carried out to increase the number and encourage the implementation of testing according to the president's direction. This price reduction has reached 45 percent from the previous highest price limit.

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Tag: nasional kesehatan pdip tes pcr