VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia is ready to transform the health system to overcome various hard-to-predict health issues. That was stated by Indonesian Deputy Minister of Health, Dante Saksono Harbuwono when ending the Health Business Gathering on Saturday (4/12)

Dante also mentioned that some health issues, such as Covid-19 pandemic are difficult to foresee. Those issues came when Indonesia was not ready. At that time, the Indonesian government had to import various needs to overcome the pandemic, such as medical gloves, maskers, and other health equipment. According to Dante, Covid-19 had put health as the first priority in all sectors.

He further said, the government realized that Covid-19 pandemic brought the need to strengthen health services. Therefore, it needs a self-reliance in pharmaceuticals and health equipment by transforming the health system, including the pharmaceutical and health equipment security as well as the development of technology, digitalization, and biotechnology.

Dante affirmed that the Indonesian health system is ready to transform. The pharma security is that Indonesia can produce their own vaccine, medicine, and can use local phytopharmacy companies.

Therefore, the government will produce 14 antigens for vaccination next year. While on medicine, the government will produce six of ten most-used medicine ingredients. Then for the phytopharmacy, the government will try to increase national production of 16 of 19 health equipment mostly used in Indonesia.

Through the Health Business Gathering 2021, the pharmaceutical and health equipment security had been done, among many was by signing cooperation and investment agreements.

Health Business Gathering was joined by 415 people, consisting of 345 domestic and 70 international participants from 15 countries and 228 online participants. The gathering resulted in 48 documents, namely 12 MoUs and 36 projects. There were also 181 meeting demands and 20 requests for meetings between government to government, government to business, and business to business.