Today, more than 16 thousands of drugs circulating in Indonesia are produced by 250 pharmaceutical factories. Every year, there are approximately 300 new brands of drugs. However, there is no particular institution to monitor drug circulation and distribution to consumers. “So many drugs are circulating in Indonesia, but there is no monitoring. Actually, this is the duty of pharmacists to monitor and protect society,†said Chairman of Indonesian Pharmacist Association (IAI), Drs. M. Dani Pratomo, M.M., Apt., who was met alongside the inauguration of 118 new pharmacists of Faculty of Pharmacy, UGM, Tuesday (23/2) at Grha Sabha Pramana.
Dani said that the limited number of pharmacists and unimplemented regulation caused the disorganized drug monitoring and service. In Indonesia there are only 30 thousands pharmacists. Dani also regretted that in the past 50 years, the practice of pharmacy in Indonesia is not run by pharmacists, meaning that the service is not given by competent people.
Related to the expensive price of drugs, Dani said that it is because people still pay by themselves while insurance has not run well. “If they are sick, people still buy the drugs by themselves. Insurance has not run well. Insurance makes drugs cheaper. Our insurance should also develop faster,†he said.
Similar opinion is also delivered by Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof. Dr. Marchaban, D.E.S.S., Apt. According to Marchaban, the service is still not optimal because it is done by incompetent people. “Many institutions regulate drugs without pharmacists. This should be legally processed, but so far there is no institution being punished yet,†he regretted. Marchaban said, “Many hospitals only provide 1-2 pharmacists. Regulations say that for every 30 beds for patients, the hospital should provide one pharmacist,†he ended.