Jakarta, The Indonesia Post – The Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin is pushing for transparency in drug prices in Indonesia to deal with prices that currently vary in the market.
“I urge the directors general (dirjen) to compare prices in Malaysia. People say Malaysia is cheaper, what medicines are available in Singapore, but not in Indonesia,” he said at the 2023 National Health Work Meeting (Rakerkesnas) which was followed in network in Jakarta, Friday.
According to him, a comparison of drug products on the foreign market is expected to provide an overview for the public in drug transactions at health care facilities.
“What is the most different price between Indonesia and Malaysia? Get the list, we will make it transparent so we can compare it,” he said.
In addition to price comparisons, the Minister of Health also asked his staff to dig up information on prices and the need for medicines through communication established with medical professional organizations.
“Speaking to the association of oncologists and cardiologists in Indonesia, what medicines are expensive. Go back to the community level, what are the complaints of the public, don’t talk about it at the elite level,” he said.
He said the public had complained about the high price of drugs. “Medicines from importers cost this much. Why is this hospital so expensive? We make it transparent,” he said.
According to him, drugs are expensive and tend to be difficult to obtain, leading to cases of smuggling to circumvent taxes.
“Yesterday he said, in North Sumatra there is a jastip (safeguarding service) to buy medicine. I think Jastip is in Jakarta to buy shoes, so it’s cheaper, you don’t have to pay taxes,” he said.
The Minister of Health said the allocation for medicine spending from the government was around IDR 26 trillion. Currently the Ministry of Health is working on the national industry to absorb around IDR 20 trillion of which is for the utilization of the Domestic Component Level (TKDN) for drug production.
“We encourage factory investment to enter the country. I want the price of the drug to be cheap,” said Budi Gunadi Sadikin.
Meanwhile, the Director General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices (Parmalkes) of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Lucia Rizka Andalusia, who was confirmed in this regard, has not provided further information, because she is participating in the 2023 National Health Working Meeting at the Jakarta Convention Center Convention Center. (mhn/bbs)
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