Indonesian President Joko Widodo wants to lower drug prices in his country to a level comparable to that of its neighbours, the country’s Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has said.
Jakarta (VNA)🎃 – Indonesian President Joko Widodo wants to lower drug prices in his country to a level comparable to that of its neighbours, the country’s Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has said.
According to president of BPOM Tarruna Ikrar, the leader has instructed the agency to adjust drug prices so that they at least match the prices of generic drugs or those in neighboring countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines, or Singapore. He said that the agency will work with the ministries of Health and Commerce to address the issue.
The official said that medicine prices in Indonesia are up to 400% higher than those abroad as pharmaceutical companies have to pay high promotion and advertising.
Besides, high cost of raw materials, with 80-90% of finished product ingredients being imported, is a significant factor driving up the price of medicines.
Another factor contributing to higher drug prices is the lack of alternative drugs with the same active ingredients for certain original medications.
To solve the challenges, Tarruna Ikrar suggested that the government regulate drug prices by implementing a more balanced price ceiling, ensuring prices that consumers can afford while also ensuring fairness for the pharmaceutical industry.
Earlier, Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin acknowledged that drug prices in the country are 3-5 times higher than in neighboring countries. One of the reasons for this is the inefficient distribution channels and lack of transparency in management./.
Indonesia’s Health Ministry and World Health Organization (WHO) have established the 2025-2029 National Strategy on Antimicrobial Resistance Control in a bid to prevent deaths from Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
The Indonesian authorities on August 19 destroyed illegally-imported goods worth 20.22 billion IDR (1.3 million USD), from industrial machinery and cell phones to pots and pans.
Indonesia and Australia agreed on a treaty-level defence cooperation pact which allows their militaries to operate in each other's territories, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on August 20.
The forum, which involves global experts and creative leaders from across 14 cultural sectors, aims to expand Thailand’s presence on the world stage through innovation and cultural exchange.
In his article, Oscar Sanchez Serra highlighted President Ho Chi Minh’s founding of the Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper on June 21, 1925, which marked the birth of Vietnam's revolutionary press rooted in a bold and far-sighted vision.
Several ASEAN meetings are scheduled to take place in Port Dickson this September, including the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) for ASEAN Plus Three (APT), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the 15th ASEAN Maritime Forum, and the 13th Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum.
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered the urgent implementation of a national policy to crack down on all forms of call centre scams, online fraud, and illegal gambling, which are now considered threats to national security.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and EAEU Trade Minister Andrey Slepnev jointly declared the conclusion of FTA talks on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025), according to the statement.
The article stressed that throughout his revolutionary career, the founder of modern Vietnam consistently regarded the revolutionary press as a vital part of the Vietnamese Party’s and nation’s revolutionary struggle.
Pichai said the trade talks with the US are important and need to move forward professionally, without regard for any political changes in Thailand, believing that Thailand has clear principles, guidelines and procedures in place.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
The proposed venue is located in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok, featuring eight public sites, including Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal and several nearby parks.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
