Regarding The Completion Of Cancer Drugs From Overseas, The Ministry Of Health Wants Its Security

Illustration. Joint officers from the Health Office, DPP and West Aceh Police inspected a pharmacy in Meulaboh, West Aceh, Saturday 22 October. (ANTARA-Syifa Y)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) appealed to the public to be aware of medicinal products obtained through goods deposit services (jastip) from abroad. According to him, the quality and safety of medicinal supplements are not guaranteed.

"Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin has stated, be careful, who is in charge of security, who knows the drug is fake? And others," said Head of the Communication and Public Service Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, who was confirmed in Jakarta, Thursday, March 16, as reported by Antara.

He said the medicinal products obtained through Jastip were categorized as illegal goods circulating in Indonesia, because security was not guaranteed.

Nadia said that the provisions for the use of imported medicinal products are only excluded if they meet the needs of the buyer or personal interests, through the supervision of a doctor.

"Drugs can be for your own interests, not laptops. Even though it's hand-carrying. No one knows, if it's brought by someone else, isn't it selling?," he said.

Previously, the phenomenon of medicinal products was reported by medical personnel at Adam Malik Hospital, Medan, to Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.

Drug supplements in Indonesia appear following price differences of up to four times cheaper in Singapore and Malaysia. In addition, there is also a shortage of certain drugs in the domestic market.

"Jastip is actually because there is no medicine. In addition, medicine in Indonesia is much more expensive. The results of studies in Medan, our generic medicine is indeed lacking," he said.

Nadia said that Jastip transactions for certain drugs branded in Medan were able to reduce the price by 5-15 percent cheaper.

Nadia said the types of drugs obtained through Jastip services are generally for the recovery of cancer which is still very limited in Indonesia.

Scarcity of cancer drugs in Indonesia, one of which is related to registration provisions and trademark rights only obtained by official distributors registered with the government.

"For example, a cancer foundation that takes care of children with cancer, can he register this drug? Now it's not (in Indonesia) yet," he said.

Until now, the Ministry of Health is still communicating this with the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) as the drug control authority in Indonesia to provide access to interested parties outside distributors in an effort to provide medicines.

Other types of drugs that are also obtained by suit are heart drugs, reduced sugar levels, and vitamins.

"In fact, vitamins too, but it is indeed more of a branded drug, which is much more expensive," he said.