REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The Food and Drugs Agency (BPOM) destroyed 3,704 items of illegal medicines throughout Indonesia, during October 22-23, 2013. Acting Head of BPOM, Amal Hayati M said that national joint operation was conducted to improve public protection from health risk.
"Many food and medicines circulation do not meet requirements of safety and quality. Some parties also conduct illegal medicine trafficking operation," Hayati said recently.
The illegal medicines consist of 696 drug list item G, 152 items of traditional medicines contains chemical drugs, 956 items of traditional medicines without marketing authorization. There are also 57 items of cosmetic containing prohibited materials and 12 items of expired foods. All items have economic value of four billion USD. All illegal medicines will be destroyed in Karawang, West Java.
Illegal medicines spread in 196 places, such as production facilities, importers and distributors, pharmacies, supermarkets, stores, warehouses and clinics. Hayati said 70 percent of illegal medicines found in these places.
BPOM managed to confiscated eight items of traditional medicines that contain chemicals, drugs and two items of finished drug products that were used as a mixture of traditional medicine. The illegal medicines were secured from a producer with initial name APN in Tangerang, Banten.
BPOM has to cut off supply and demand chain. Until 2013, there are 15 cases of illegal medicines discoveries. There are 20 locations for circulation of illegal cosmetics in Jakarta.