Erick Thohir Brings Good News From WHO, Indonesia Will Become A Center For COVID-19 Vaccine Production In Southeast Asia

SOE Minister Erick Thohir. (photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - SOE Minister Erick Thohir said positive news came from the World Health Organization (WHO) which gave a signal to make Indonesia a hub or center for COVID-19 vaccine production in Southeast Asia.

Erick Thohir said that this could not be separated after Indonesia was appointed as one of the beneficiaries of the transfer of mRNA-based vaccine technology. The synergy between the Ministry of SOEs, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the key to gaining the trust of the WHO.

"The good collaboration between the Minister of Health, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and us from SOEs, has made WHO trust Indonesia to make mRNA vaccines," said Erick Thohir in a written statement quoted by Antara, Thursday, February 24.

PT Bio Farma (Persero) is an Indonesian company that will produce mRNA vaccines. The holding company for pharmaceutical SOEs has long been known as the largest vaccine manufacturer in Southeast Asia with a biopharmaceutical production capacity of 3.2 billion, including 14 types of vaccines that have been exported to more than 150 countries.

"This trust from WHO is only the beginning. This is also part of the massive transformation program that we are carrying out at the pharmaceutical BUMN holding," said Erick Thohir.

Erick Thohir conveyed that the pharmaceutical holding's transformation goal was to provide high-quality health products and services that were integrated, affordable, and focused on customers.

The Minister of SOEs also added that Indonesia has also established the health sector as one of the main focuses in the implementation of the G20 Presidency. Erick Thohir assessed that the issue of vaccine distribution and technology transfer should be a priority in overcoming health sector problems, such as during a pandemic.

The health sector has a major impact on other sectors such as the economy, education, and society. Therefore, SOEs also make health a part of the economic, educational, and technological ecosystems that are being developed by SOEs.

"Because when we talk about health, we don't only talk about health activities, but we also talk about economics, education, social affairs, and others," said Erick Thohir.