As a national pharmaceutical company, Dexa Group plays a crucial role in supporting Indonesia’s healthcare independence and resilience by providing medicines for 277.14 million patients of the Health Social Security Agency (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial (BPJS Kesehatan)). Dexa Group highlighted this theme at the Innovation and Technology in Health Transformation Exhibition, marking the 60th National Health Day (Hari Kesehatan Nasional (HKN)) organized by Indonesia’s Ministry of Health at the Jakarta Convention Center on Friday, November 8, 2024.
The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK), Pratikno, emphasized the importance of building public health and preventing disease as a crucial part of human resource development. According to Pratikno, the government is focusing on strengthening Indonesia’s health resilience through domestically produced medicines and medical devices.
“Innovation must continue to grow, extending beyond health science researchers. The government also encourages the Minister of Health to focus the health budget on domestic spending,” stated Menko Pratikno during the HAI Festival opening at JCC Senayan on Friday (8/11/2024).
Similarly, Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that efforts to advance the pharmaceutical, medical devices, and healthcare industries will prioritize domestic development. This aligns with the third pillar of health transformation: building a resilient health system.
“The pandemic has taught us about the limitations in the supply of medical devices and medicines. With a population of over 280 million, Indonesia must be prepared for urgent needs, such as medicines, vaccines, ventilators, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Therefore, we are committed to strengthening the domestic pharmaceutical and medical device industries to create a resilient and secure health system for future pandemics,” said Menkes Budi.
Dexa Group’s Support for Health Independence and Resilience
President Director of PT Dexa Medica, V Hery Sutanto, reaffirmed Dexa Group’s commitment to supporting Indonesia’s health independence, mainly through the production of Indonesian Indigenous Modern Medicines (OMAI) that have been developed into phytopharmaceuticals with local research and technology.
“Dexa Group consistently supports Indonesia’s health independence and resilience programs through locally sourced chemical medicines and natural-based OMAI. These medicines have been researched to become phytopharmaceuticals and are marketed internationally with high Domestic Content Level (TKDN),” Hery stated.
Hery further explained that plants like meniran, bungur, and cinnamon used in Dexa’s phytopharmaceutical development are sourced directly from Indonesian farmers.
“The government aims to utilize resources from Indonesia from upstream to downstream, creating a large ripple effect from farmers’ welfare, raw material suppliers, raw material industry, to the finished drug industry—all are supported. This way, we strengthen our nation’s health resilience, reducing reliance on imports,” he added.
To meet the needs of BPJS patients, Dexa Group also provides Branded Generic Medicines (OGB) with a high TKDN.
“Dexa’s OGB products are Dexa Medica’s effort to provide affordable, high-quality, effective medicines accessible to Indonesian society,” Hery said.
Meanwhile, the Dean of ITB School of Pharmacy, Prof. Apt. I, Ketut Adnyana, M.Si., PhD, highlighted Indonesia’s immense potential in natural resources as the key to independence in the health sector. “Indonesia’s potential for self-sufficiency in health and pharmaceuticals lies in natural resources, as we are the world’s top in this area,” said Prof. Ketut.
Prof. Ketut added that natural-based medicines can prevent and promote public health, particularly for chronic diseases like stroke and diabetes. “Natural medicines work upstream, focusing on preventive and promotive aspects, improving community health and fitness. We hope people will get used to using natural ingredients daily as a preventive measure to stay healthy,” he explained.
Furthermore, Dexa Group’s Business Development and Scientific Affairs Director, Prof. Raymond R. Tjandrawinata, emphasized the importance of Nutri-genomics and bioactive compounds from herbal plants to improve public health. He noted that Indonesia has abundant biodiversity with thousands of plant species, but only a fraction has been utilized.
“More globally recognized clinical trials are needed to integrate Indonesian herbal products into the National Health Insurance (JKN), allowing for broader utilization in Indonesia’s healthcare,” said Prof. Raymond.
At the exhibition, Dexa Group showcased products such as high TKDN OMAI, Dexa’s OGB, Omeprazole and Esomeprazole, the Stardec medical device, and various digital platforms supporting public health resilience.
