New ruling on narcotic import quota drafted<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A new regulation is being drafted to set a quota
\non the amount of narcotic substances imported and produced in the
\ncountry in an effort to curb a possible spill-over seeping into
\nthe illegal market.<\/p>\n
Production and import of narcotics in the country are
\nmonopolized by privately-run Kimia Farma.<\/p>\n
Once the new regulation is in place, the government would have
\nthe right to restrict the amount that the company can import and
\nproduce.<\/p>\n
Director General of Food and Medicine Control Sampurno said
\nhere on Friday that the Ministry of Health would each year survey
\nthe expected demand from hospitals, medical schools and other
\ninstitutions permitted to utilize narcotics, and determine the
\nrequired amounts.<\/p>\n
\"The production and supply of the narcotics each year will
\ndepend on the determined amount. This way we can help prevent
\nillicit trafficking of the narcotics,\" Sampurno told reporters.<\/p>\n
The legal use of narcotics in Indonesia is limited to
\nprescribed medication and research.<\/p>\n
Sampurno expressed confidence that with the new quota system
\nthe government can better control the legal production and import
\nof the drugs, thereby curbing unwanted excess.<\/p>\n
However, he did not say how much the current official national
\ndemand for the drugs.<\/p>\n
The drug problem has gained nationwide attention in recent
\nmonths. Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi has pledged that his
\noffice would do its utmost to help eradicate the problem.<\/p>\n
The ministry's Law and Public Relations Bureau Chief Budi
\nYhamono said a rough draft of the regulation on the narcotics
\nquota may be completed by the end of a four-day National Working
\nMeeting of the Ministry of Health that began on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"We are also discussing the revision of Law No. 5\/1997 on
\nnarcotics and Law No. 22\/1997 on psychotropic drugs. We are
\nlooking into basic changes in the length of punishment for
\nviolators and procedures for narcotics production and supply,\"
\nBudi said.<\/p>\n
The revision will propose a maximum jail term of 20 years or
\nlife imprisonment for drugs traffickers.<\/p>\n
\"We are considering the death sentence but it's still quite
\ncontroversial among us,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Sampurno also said that his office had approved the entry of
\nthe Naloxone detoxification pills with a dosage of 0.4 milligram.<\/p>\n
The pills will help recovering drug users clean their system
\nof the various toxins consumed during their addiction.<\/p>\n
The pills can be acquired through a prescription from
\nphysicians or psychiatrists.<\/p>\n
Each pill is sold at a price of Rp50,000 (US$6.25). (04)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-ruling-on-narcotic-import-quota-drafted-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }