'Self-dispending' policy welcomed by doctors' body<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI)
\nwelcomed yesterday the government's "self-dispensing" policy
\nwhich will see general practitioners directly provide medicines
\nto their patients.<\/p>\n
The association lauded the Ministry of Health's June 9
\ndecision as "a political decision which was taken for the sake of
\npeople's welfare".<\/p>\n
"There are two internationally known ways of handing drugs to
\npatients. One is through prescriptions, the other is self-
\ndispensing by doctors.<\/p>\n
"To date there is no data that shows which is superior, either
\nethically or from the service quality point of view," it said in
\na statement.<\/p>\n
The statement, signed by association chairman Dr. Merdias
\nAlmatsier and secretary-general Dr. Hasbulah Thabrany, said the
\nassociation urged members to uphold their professional integrity
\nin supporting the government's policy.<\/p>\n
"By so doing, it is hoped that we can answer worries and
\nconcerns expressed by many parties that the policy will lead to
\nirrational medical therapy, more expensive health expenses and
\nthe crippling of the drug distribution system if the policy is
\nimplemented," its statement, distributed during a small seminar
\non health development policy reform here, said.<\/p>\n
One reason why the association welcomes the decision is that
\nit may help alleviate the costs currently passed on to patients.<\/p>\n
"The policy gives practicing doctors the opportunity to
\ndispense generic drugs that fit the socioeconomic background of
\ntheir patients," the announcement said.<\/p>\n
However an association executive, Dr. M. Ahmad Djojosugito,
\nwarned that the measure, aimed at cutting prices of generic drugs
\nby an average of 30 percent, could fail should there be "badly
\nbehaved doctors".<\/p>\n
"The downside is that no control and reports are required ...
\nSome naughty doctors could just keep charging their patients the
\nsame old prices (which are supposed to be 30 percent lower),"
\nAhmad, who is also director of the state Cipto Mangunkusumo
\nGeneral Hospital, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The association pointed out that the protracted distribution
\nchain of medicines contributed to the rising prices of generic
\ndrugs.<\/p>\n
"This self-dispensing measure will cut a part of the
\ndistribution chain and thus the prices of drugs significantly,"
\nthe association said.<\/p>\n
Not surprisingly, grumbles came from pharmaceutical
\nmanufacturers.<\/p>\n
Ahaditomo, of the Association of Indonesian Pharmaceutical
\nManufacturers, argued that the exact opposite would occur as the
\nself-dispensing policy would simply "extend distribution
\nnetworks".<\/p>\n
What was more essential, he said, was for industries to make
\nproduction of generic medicines more efficient and thereby
\nfacilitate the lowering of prices.<\/p>\n
"More efficient production will automatically lead to lower
\npricing," Ahaditomo, who is marketing director of PT Meiji
\nIndonesian Pharmaceutical Industries, told reporters.<\/p>\n
Since the monetary crisis hit the country last year, prices of
\npatented drugs have reportedly increased up to 300 percent.<\/p>\n
Generic drug prices, relatively stable since l993, have also
\nsoared by as much as 150 percent recently, causing many public
\ncomplaints about their affordability.<\/p>\n
Generic drugs account for about 80 percent of prescribed
\nmedications.<\/p>\n
Up to 90 percent of the raw materials used to manufacture the
\ncountry's medications are imported.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, IDI also urged the government to eliminate various
\nfees, such as value-added tax, warehousing costs and illegal
\nlevies, imposed on pharmaceutical manufacturers importing raw
\nmaterials for medicines.<\/p>\n
They argued that such raw materials should be considered
\n"basic essentials". (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/self-dispending-policy-welcomed-by-doctors-body-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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