“The COVID-19 pandemic has become a momentum in encouraging many research and development initiatives, both on drugs and vaccines, which aim to treat and prevent the spread of the COVID-19.”

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The drugs development in Indonesia has great potentials due to the country's wealth of natural, maritime and biodiversity resources, Head of Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) Penny K. Lukito has stated.

Penny K Lukito made the remark in a workshop entitled Utilization of COVID-19 Drug and Vaccine Development Technology to Support the Development of Domestic Drug and Vaccine Independent Ecosystems here on Friday.

However, until now, the Indonesian pharmaceutical industry still relies on imported raw materials and drugs, especially for drugs produced with high technology, Penny said.

According to the head of BPOM, Indonesia is still a user of innovations from other countries and has not become an inventor because in general the pharmaceutical industry of the archipelagic country has not made research as a basis for business development.

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a momentum in encouraging many research and development initiatives, both on drugs and vaccines, which aim to treat and prevent the spread of the COVID-19, she said.

"This is one of the efforts towards health sovereignty, especially the independence of domestic vaccine production so as not to depend on vaccine products from abroad," Penny continued.

All research and development needs to be supported so that research products can be commercialized and provide benefits to the wider community, she said, adding that BPOM as a regulator in the drug sector always oversees the development of drugs and vaccines.

Penny pointed out that in this case BPOM will continue to assist intensively at every stage of development in order to meet standards and requirements for safety, efficacy, and quality.

"Nevertheless, the success of research and development of new drugs and vaccines is not only the task of BPOM, but also a synergistic, coordinating, and communicative joint effort among relevant stakeholders that are members of the triple helix synergy," she added.

On the occasion of the workshop, BPOM introduced several public service innovations, including the NEW-Aero Webchat to improve the convenience of registrants in conducting consultations regarding issues related to drug registration.

In addition, the agency also introduced the SISOBAT Subsite to present the latest information on drug regulations, products produced by the Directorate of Standardization of drugs, narcotics, psychotropic, precursors, and addictive substances, inputs related to Norms, Standards, Procedures and Criteria.

Reporting by Indonesia Window