Joko Widodo, Indonesia’s senator, has given his cupboard the task of lowering the cost of medical supplies and high drug prices.
He emphasised that Indonesia’s health sector needs to be adaptable and ready for future epidemics, and instructed officials to work out strategies to enhance the pharmaceutical industry’s profitability, Health Minister Budi Sadikin said.
Mr. Widodo also questioned at a meeting on Tuesday ( Jul 2 ) at the Presidential Palace whether Indonesia’s prices for medicines and medical supplies could be comparable to those of neighbouring nations.  ,
According to American digital healthcare organization Medbelle’s 2019 Medicine Price Index, Malaysia is one of the nations with the lowest drug costs.
The significant cost change, according to Indonesian advertising, has resulted in a rise in online services that aid Indonesian consumers in shipping medicines from Malaysia.  ,
” The difference in medicine prices ( in Indonesia ) is three times, five times, compared to Malaysia, more expensive by 300 per cent to 500 per cent”, said Mr Budi as quoted by news outlet Kompas.  ,
CNA recently reported on the cheaper costs of medications in Malaysia and noted cases such as Twynsta, which treats hypotension, Micardis, which treats high blood pressure, and Lipitor, which reduces cholesterol rates.
A package of Twynsta containing four blisters costs RM66 ( IDR220, 000, or US$ 14 ) in Malaysia– or about IDR 55, 000 per lesion– but CNA found the medication being sold for IDR196, 700 per lesion at a properly- known store chain in Indonesia. In the nation, drugs are usually sold in one blisters.
A box containing two Micardis 40mg blisters in Malaysia costs RM62 ( IDR210, 000, or IDR105, 000 per blister ) while in Indonesia, it costs IDR279, 000 per blister.  ,
A box of three Lipitor 10mg blisters costs RM108 ( IDR374, 000, or IDR124, 667 per blister ) in Malaysia, while in Indonesia, a blister sells for IDR249, 000.