BPOM Anticipates Rise in Medicine Prices Due to Conflict in the Strait of Hormuz

Head of Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM), Taruna Ikrar, has explained that the agency has anticipated a rise in medicine prices due to the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. Increases in production costs, disruptions in shipments, and rising global oil prices are impacting the distribution of medicines. BPOM is mitigating this through technology-based supervision, optimisation of medicine production capacity, and assisting the domestic pharmaceutical industry during emergencies. BPOM is collaborating with relevant institutions to ensure the availability and stable pricing of medicines in the country. National health resilience is a mission that BPOM must achieve. “Through cross-sectoral strategic collaboration to mitigate risks and maintain national health resilience,” he stated. Although Iran does not produce medicines on a large scale, the raw materials for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) rely on petrochemical precursors whose supply must pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Currently, Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz if the United States (US) violates the ceasefire agreement. Iran still objects to the US sea blockade there. In addition, the US has presented a new proposal regarding the end of the war, which has been accepted by the SNSC. “We are having very good conversations. Everything is going very well,” said Trump, quoted from BBC, Sunday (19/4/2026).