Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin emphasized  on Thursday (12/12/2024) the need for transparency in medicines pricing to address significant cost discrepancies and reduce the high prices of medications in Indonesia.

"Drug prices can vary significantly between hospitals within the country," he said, as quoted by antaranews.com.The minister stressed the importance of transparency for both branded generics and innovative drugs, particularly those not covered by BPJS Kesehatan, the national health insurance program which often cost three to four times more than in neighboring countries.

Key factors contributing to high prices include marketing and distribution expenses. By implementing transparent practices, these issues can be identified and resolved.

Minister Budi Gunadi also highlighted the need for balance between drug efficacy and business sustainability, urging negotiations on drug pricing and using Health Technology Assessments (HTA) to evaluate new treatments.

The Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) has streamlined drug certification processes, reducing approval timelines from 300 days to 90. 

BPOM Chief Taruna Ikrar added that the agency fosters collaboration between universities and industries to develop innovative products, bridging funding gaps for academic research and encouraging business innovation.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)