As a leading national pharmaceutical company, Dexa Group plays a crucial role in advancing Indonesia’s healthcare independence and resilience, serving 277.14 million patients covered by the National Health Insurance (BPJS Kesehatan). Dexa Group underscored this commitment at the Innovation and Technology in Health Transformation Exhibition, held in conjunction with the 60th National Health Day (HKN) by the Ministry of Health at the Jakarta Convention Center on Friday, November 8, 2024.
The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, emphasized enhancing public health and disease prevention as essential components of human resource development. He emphasized that the government is focusing on strengthening Indonesia’s health resilience through the use of domestically produced medicines and medical devices.
“Innovation must thrive beyond health science research. The government encourages the Ministry of Health to focus the health budget on domestic spending,” Pratikno stated during the HKN opening ceremony at JCC Senayan on Friday (8/11/2024).
Echoing this sentiment, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin affirmed that advancing the pharmaceutical, medical device, and healthcare industries will prioritize domestic development, in line with the third pillar of health transformation: building a resilient health system.
“The pandemic has taught us about the challenges 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 local pharmaceutical and medical device industries to ensure a resilient and secure health system in the face of future pandemics,” said Minister Budi.
Dexa Group’s Role in Strengthening Healthcare Independence and Resilience
President Director of PT Dexa Medica, V Hery Sutanto, reaffirmed Dexa Group’s commitment to supporting Indonesia’s healthcare independence, particularly through the production of Indonesian Indigenous Modern Medicines (Obat Modern Asli Indonesia (OMAI)), which are developed into phytopharmaceuticals using local research and technology.
“Dexa Group consistently supports Indonesia’s healthcare independence and resilience through our 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),” said Hery.
He elaborated that the plants used in Dexa’s phytopharmaceuticals, such as meniran, bungur, and cinnamon are sourced directly from Indonesian farmers.
“The government aims to utilize local resources from upstream to downstream, creating a ripple effect that benefits farmers, raw material suppliers, the raw material industry, and the finished drug industry. This strengthens our national health resilience and reduces dependency on imports,” he added.
To meet BPJS patient needs, Dexa Group also supplies Branded Generic Medicines (OGB) with high TKDN levels. “Dexa’s OGB products reflect our commitment to providing affordable, high-quality, effective medicines that are accessible to the Indonesian public,” Hery noted.
Meanwhile, Prof. Apt. I Ketut Adnyana, M.Si., PhD, Dean of ITB’s School of Pharmacy, highlighted Indonesia’s vast potential in natural resources as a cornerstone for healthcare independence. “Indonesia’s potential for self-sufficiency in health and pharmaceuticals is unmatched, given our world-leading natural resources,” said Prof. Ketut.
He added that natural-based medicines can be instrumental in preventing chronic diseases like stroke and diabetes. “Natural medicines target the root cause, focusing on preventive and promotive health measures, which improve public health and wellness. We hope people will incorporate natural ingredients into their daily routines as a preventive measure to stay healthy,” he explained.
Prof. Raymond R. Tjandrawinata, Dexa Group’s Business Development and Scientific Affairs Director, emphasized the significance of nutrigenomics and bioactive compounds derived from herbal plants in enhancing public health. He noted that Indonesia has abundant biodiversity with thousands of plant species, but only a fraction has been utilized.
“Globally recognized clinical trials are essential for integrating Indonesian herbal products into the National Health Insurance (JKN), enabling broader adoption in Indonesia’s healthcare system,” Prof. Raymond stated.
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 that contribute to public health resilience.