VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 The Indonesian government is considering importing raw material for the production of masks from Europe since the stock of the raw material imported from China is running low. "The raw materials for the production of masks have so far been imported from China. Since the stock is running low, we will buy raw materials from Europe," State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir said in Jakarta Wednesday.

He appealed to the public to understand that the price of masks will increase since the raw materials are being imported from Europe.

"The price of masks using raw materials from Europe will be higher. Don't think that when the stock of raw materials from China runs low and the price of masks suddenly increases, (state pharmaceutical company) Kimia Farma capitalizes on the opportunity. The raw materials for the production of masks are different from those of China," he said.

Earlier, Thohir assured that the stocks of masks and other medical supplies are secure and the public can buy them at all Kimia Farma drugstores

To secure the stocks, Kimia Farma only allows each resident to buy two masks, he said.

Meanwhile, the company currently has some 215 thousand masks in stock. It also has put an order for some 7.2 million masks, Kimia Farma Director Verdi Budidarmo said.

The country has a stock of around 50 million masks and there is no reason for the public to panic in facing the spread of the coronavirus, President Joko Widodo said earlier.