VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian government keeps streuggling to fulfill the increasing need for Covid-19 therapeutic drugs along with the increase in Covid-19 cases occurring in Indonesia. As quoted from the setkab.go.id page, in a virtual press conference on Monday afternoon (26/7), Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that currently, there are three types of therapeutic drugs that cannot be produced domestically. They are  Remdesivir, Actemra, and Gammaraas. He added that these three types of drugs around the world are also in short supply.

According to Minister Budi Gunadi, at the end of July, 150 thousand vials of Remdesivir will arrive, then 1.2 million will arrive next month. Then for Actemra, a thousand vials are planned to arrive this month. Minister of Health Budi Gunadi added that in August, the government will import 138,000 from several countries. To obtain the drugs, the Indonesian government must find them to all corners of the world. As for Gammaraas, the Ministry of Health will import 26 thousand this July and 27 thousand in August.

The scarcity of therapeutic drugs has indeed been a complaint of the families of Covid-19 patients in Indonesia recently. This drug is hard to find in the market, if any, the price is doubled. Many people convey chain messages about the search for these therapeutic drugs. They raise funds to buy, because the therapeutic drugs are not covered by the Indonesian government. The families of Covid-19 patients will certainly try to provide the best for sick families, even though they have to spend a lot of money. Unfortunately, the scarcity of therapeutic drugs is not due to the treatment of patients, but because there are people who want to buy them to be kept as reserves.

This therapeutic drug procurement system has to be managed well. Moreover, these drugs can only be given in hospitals, as stated by Minister of Health Budi Gunadi. He explained that Gammaraas, Actemra and Remdesivir have to be injected and could only be done in hospitals. Perhaps, the distribution of this Covid-19 therapeutic drug does not need to be spread to many parties. It’s enough in the hospitals. Thus, there is no opportunity for people who want to buy as reserves.

The hope is that there are no Indonesian people anymore who have to take the therapeutic drugs. This means that no Indonesian people are exposed to the Covid-19 virus in all its variants. Of course, this is not a grandiose hope, if all Indonesian people protect themselves and loved ones by wearing masks, diligently washing hands, maintaining distance, avoiding crowds and reducing mobility. It is no less important to vaccinate. Because protecting oneself from exposure to the Covid-19 virus means protecting many people.