Indonesia to be able to produce medicinal raw material: Health Minister

Jakarta, InfoPublik – Indonesian Health Minister Nila Moeloek stated that 2018 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) data showed that cancer prevalence based on doctor's diagnosis rose from 1.4 per mil in 2013 to 1.8 permil in 2018.

Likewise, hepatitis prevalence based on doctor's diagnosis also rose from 0.2 percent in 2013 to 0.4 percent in 2018. According to Nila, cancer and hepatitis require intensive treatment. But unfortunately, some medicines currently used to treat cancer and hepatitis are still imported.

"Therefore, Indonesia is in dire need of a pharmaceutical industry that can produce cancer and antihepatitic drugs as well as raw materials for cancer and antihepatitic drugs," Minister Nila said while addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of PT Brightgene Biomedical Indonesia’sFactory, in West Karawang, West Java Thursday (8/8).

Upon its operation, PT. BrightGene Biomedical Indonesia is expected to produce raw materials for hepatitis B antiviral drugs, cancer drugs, and hormones and to contribute to meet the needs of medicinal raw materials for local and foreign industries.

Currently a number of foreign pharmaceutical industries including that of from the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, China, and India, which partnered up with national pharmaceutical industry to produce raw materials and medicinal products.

Such joint-venture partnership is expected to facilitate technology transfer and reduce import dependence, and eventually prove that Indonesia’s pharmaceutical industry continues to develop and become an attractive business field.

Currently, Indonesia has 10 pharmaceutical raw materials industries including chemical, biosimilar, and natural raw materials, which are targeted to contribute to a decrease in raw material imports of approximately 15% by 2021.

"I hope that PT BrightGene Biomedical Indonesia can continue to innovate in producing other medicinal raw materials that can be used for health products while still paying attention to meet quality standards and also take part in the global market," said Nila.

Nila also said that within three years after Presidential Instruction No. 6 of 2016 concerning the Acceleration of the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry and Medical Devices was issued, investment in the pharmaceutical industry continued to increase from year to year.

health Ministry has also issued Regulation of the Ministry of Health No. 17 of 2017 concerning the Action Plan for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry and Medical Devices which serves a reference for the government and the private sector in the development of the industry especially the drug raw material industry to reduce the dependence on imported raw materials of drugs.

(Reporter: Putri, Translator: Wilda Stiana)