Indonesian House of Representatives Asks BPOM To Open Ivermectin Use Room For COVID-19

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JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Melkiades Laka Lena, asked the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) to provide space for the use of medicines that can also be used to cure COVID-19 in an emergency situation like today. For example, Ivermectin.

According to Melki, the current pattern of handling drug use by BPOM must be more progressive. Given, the case of COVID-19 has not been sloping.

"Scientific rules and regulations can still be used, but at the same time there must also be room for the use of drugs such as Ivermectin and others that are more open", said Melki to reporters, Tuesday, August 31.

Melki also encouraged BPOM to be part of the implementation of Presidential Instruction No. 6/2016. In which President Jokowi intended this Presidential Instruction to accelerate the production of drugs and medical devices in the country.

"And in terms of medicine, we encourage BPOM to really help, assist, facilitate so that domestic medicines can be produced, especially during the current pandemic", said the Golkar politician.

Melki reminded BPOM that the implementation of Presidential Instruction 6/2016 is very important so that domestic medicinal products are of higher quality, efficacious, safe so that they can be immediately used for handling COVID-19. Thus, he said, the Indonesian pharmaceutical industry became the host in its own country.

"We must strongly encourage the domestic drug industry so that we do not always depend on imported drugs. This certainly helps us to be independent in the health sector, especially in the pharmaceutical sector," said Melki.

As is known, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on June 8, 2016, has signed the Presidential Instruction Number 6 of 2016 concerning the Acceleration of the Development of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Industry. The Instruction is addressed to:

1. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs;
2. Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK);
3. Minister of Health (Menkes);
4. Minister of Finance (Menkeu);
5. Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Menristek Dikti);
6. Minister of Industry (Minister of Industry);
7. Minister of Trade (Minister of Trade); 8. Minister of Agriculture (Mentan);
8. Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN);
9. Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM);
10. Head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM); and
11. Head of Government Goods/Services Procurement Policy Institute (LKPP).