BPOM Ensures Indonesia's Drug and Food Security Amid Middle East Conflict

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Head of the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), Taruna Ikrar, has assured that Indonesia maintains strong resilience in medicines and food amid the Middle East conflict, which could affect the nation’s food and drug security status. In Jakarta on Wednesday, Taruna said the conflict would certainly impact Indonesia, particularly in drug prices, given that Indonesia still imports a large portion of its medicines from abroad. ‘We are fortunate, because several years ago we already prepared. So, up to now, according to our available calculations, from our major pharmaceutical companies we still have sufficiency, so God willing we will not experience shortages of medicines, including food,’ he said. Taruna noted that the public should be grateful, as Indonesia remains self-sufficient in food, for example rice which is no longer imported. He also stated that Indonesia produces a number of food products independently. On Saturday (28 Feb) morning local time, United States-Israel airstrikes on Iran killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several family members, senior military commanders, and civilians. Iran retaliated with a series of rocket and drone strikes targeting Israel and US military bases across the Middle East. Subsequently, Iranian media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had closed the Strait of Hormuz to ship traffic, saying the sea lane vital for oil and gas was unsafe due to the US and Israel strikes. Located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz serves as the only sea route from the Persian Gulf to the open sea, reinforcing its status as one of the world’s most strategically vital points.