VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium, Teten Masduki stated that the quality of  local products for medical devices is getting better if compared with imported ones. He stated this after attending the “Facilitation for the Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Medical Devices Production”  event in Solo, Central Java  on Saturday (20/8).  He also said that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises are able to supply the needs of domestic medical devices as well as substitute for imported products.

Furthermore, he calls for everyone to equalize the perception between the needs of the industry and the supply chain provided by business actors. Thus, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises can be directedto produce medical equipment with simple technology, for example, to produce syringes.

According to Minister Teten Masduki, the procurement of government spending in the country has been very good. A number of medical devices that have entered the procurement of goods at the Ministry of Health are  from the production of micro businesses. He further stated that his side will develop research which can be used for medical device development in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture. This will be done  through a matching fund program that finances research and development of joint research on campuses, and its products are made by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

Moreover, Minister Teten Masduki gave his appreciation to the Ministry of Health that had organized the “Facilitation for the Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Medical Devices Production” event. He  emphasized that this activity would further encourage collaborative action and cross-sectoral synergy, especially in relation with   President Joko Widodo's directive to increase the absorption of domestic products and reduce imported ones.

He  reminded that the government has determined that 40 percent of government spending must absorb the products of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and cooperatives.The Central Statistics Agency estimates that if that figure is spent, it will increase employment by around two million people and  economic growth by  1.85 percent.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that so far, about 50-60 percent of medical devices and medicines have come from imported products. He asked for any medical products that can be produced domestically not to be bought from abroad again. If 20 percent of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises make medical equipment, it will really help the domestic economy.