JAKARTA - A quite surprising statement came from the Minister for State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir. He said there was a mafia that deliberately made Indonesia import raw materials for medical devices, personal protective equipment, and medicines in Indonesia.
This statement came after BUMN Minister Erick Thohir said the medical equipment and medicine mafia could take advantage of the condition of the country which is currently fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. So, this kind of mafia should be fought so that there are no dirty practices that make it difficult for the state in times like now.
"If we don't work together, do other nations care? Not everyone, the money ends up and we are trapped in the short term policy dominated by the mafia. We have to fight that," said Erick in a live broadcast on his account @erickthohir.
He added that currently there are 90 percent of medical devices and medicinal raw materials imported from abroad. Thus, it is very possible that the medical equipment and drugs mafia interfered in these import activities.
"Sorry if offending some parties, don't we always get stuck in dirty practices," he said.
Special staff of the Ministry of BUMN, Arya Sinulingga, said there were several things that made Erick Thohir convinced about the existence of the mafia. One of them is the high number of imports in medical devices and medicines.
"This is up to 90 percent more, isn't it sad? We are capable of producing PPE, that big drug means there is a market outside but there is no effort to make it yourself," said Arya in an online discussion broadcast on YouTube, Sunday, April 19. .
He said, there were parties who seemed to force Indonesia to continue importing medical devices. "So far (there are) traders, who are trading. This is where Mr. Erick said there are those who insist that trading continues, not making products," he said.
One of the medical devices mentioned by Arya was the effort to fulfill the ventilator. According to him, before the collaboration between several universities and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Indonesia often imported ventilators.
In fact, currently many prototypes have been tested by the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) and will continue in mass production if they pass the testing process.
So, from the example he mentioned, this means that Indonesia is actually capable of making ventilators. However, there are those who have deliberately left the absence of a ventilator manufacturer from Indonesia so that imports can be carried out and remain profitable.
"So if it works, it means we can make ventilators. It means the domestic industry. So far, what have we been doing?" said Arya.
It's just that, when asked about who is the party referred to by the BUMN and whether Erick Thohir has pocketed the names of those who are suspected of playing in the import of medical devices and medicines, Arya admitted that his party had not gone that far.
"No, not that far. But the Minister has seen it from his behavior. Why did it take so long, how come I like trading, I don't want to produce it myself," he said.
Member of Commission VI DPR RI Martin Manurung said, during a working meeting some time ago with his commission, Minister of BUMN Erick Thohir explained the difficulty in fulfilling medical devices and medicines because of the high import components, not the existence of a mafia.
It's just that, to eradicate the mafia or dirty games from old business actors in the field of medical devices and medicines, the government should disclose information regarding the procurement of medical devices. Thus, the procurement of medical devices and medicines is not only filled by old players but also new players.
"Actually there can be a blackmarket, the mafia because the information is closed. If it is opened, what are the conditions for players or business actors in this sense to enter. As long as the information is closed and controlled by some people, there is a mafia there," said Martin in a discussion. same.
He emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic must be a momentum to resolve problems like this, including the issue of import dependence, which has not been resolved long ago.
"I think COVID-19 is a hard slap for all of us because it doesn't solve the problem. It means that in the midst of an extraordinary incident like this, if we don't use it as a momentum to solve the problem, what time will it be," he said.
Secretary General of the Association of Indonesian Hospitals (PERSI) Lia G. Partakusuma was reluctant to comment on the existence of a mafia for medical devices and medicines. However, since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Indonesia, hospitals have often had difficulties even competing to find personal protective equipment (PPE) or medical devices, especially masks.
"Now the most troublesome thing is the N95 mask which is needed by medical personnel who treat COVID-19 patients. This is rather difficult. The items are limited in stock, so we have to chase and compete with each other to get these items," said Lia.
Unlike before the spread of COVID-19, Lia said, currently each hospital must compete and always prepare cash so that they can make payments. Not to mention, another problem they have to face is regarding price increases.
"The most troublesome is the price. Because it doubles, maybe whether the high demand for goods is small. So who will get it sooner. Well, that makes us hospitals concerned," he said.
"Thank God, yesterday there was assistance from the government, but it was not sufficient. ... Yes, we ask for as much as possible (PPE and masks) and the price is standardized. So as not to trouble the hospital," he concluded.
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