Govt to control price of medicine<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In anticipation of higher medicine prices the
\ngovernment is planning to control prices for branded-generic and
\npatented medicines.<\/p>\n
An official from the Ministry of Health, Sampurno, said on
\nThursday that the price of branded-generic medicines can now
\nreach six times that of generic medicines.<\/p>\n
Sampurno, the director general of Food and Drug Control, was
\nspeaking to journalists after witnessing the signing of a
\nmemorandum of understanding between the Indonesian Hospital
\nAssociation and pharmaceutical company PT Phapros Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A director of Phapros, Bina Suhendra, said since the economic
\ncrisis hit the country, \"national (medicine) industries have
\nincreased medicine prices between 100 to 200 percent.\"<\/p>\n
In the MOU Phapros is to supply medicines to the Association's
\n1,000 member hospitals. Bina said the firm could supply
\nrelatively cheaper medicines because of its association with a
\ndistributor group.<\/p>\n
Sampurno said the medicines to be controlled would only
\ncomprise those considered essential such as antibiotics
\nampicillin and amoxicillin.<\/p>\n
The generic antibiotic ampicillin costs Rp 4,800 at Melawai
\nApotik, while its branded-generic counterpart Kalpicillin costs
\nRp 11,800.<\/p>\n
Patented medicines will also be monitored by the government.
\nRegistration for a product distribution license will have to
\ninclude the maximum retail price, Sampurno said.<\/p>\n
\"We will not control the price, but if there is a hike the
\nproducers or importers will have to report to us,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Pricing will depend on the kind of medicine and prices in
\nother countries. \"It can not be higher priced than what is sold
\nabroad,\" he added. Prices of several types of medicine in
\nIndonesia are said to be higher compared to other countries.<\/p>\n
The ruling on price control will likely be implemented between
\nJuly or August through a ministry instruction, Sampurno said. The
\nmaximum penalty for failure to adhere to the ruling will be
\nrevocation of a company's distribution license, he said.<\/p>\n
Unethical promotional techniques used by pharmaceutical
\ncompanies could also result in the high price of medicines,
\nSampurno said.<\/p>\n
He cited companies giving bonuses in the form of gifts or
\nservices for the doctors prescribing their products. (10)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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