BPOM Speeds Up Regulation and Collaboration to Keep Pace with Rapid Scientific Advances
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) said it had issued nearly 60 new regulations over the past two years in collaboration with stakeholders, including pharmacists, in an effort to keep pace with rapid scientific advances and widen public access to healthcare.
“In terms of regulation, BPOM issued 38 new BPOM regulations in 2025. In 2026, we have issued almost 20 regulations so far. That is nearly 60 new regulations in two years. We have been able to issue them so quickly because of cooperation with associations and stakeholders with an interest in these matters,” BPOM chief Taruna Ikrar said in a statement in Jakarta on Monday.
He said one of the challenges in healthcare was the rapid pace of scientific development, which was advancing extraordinarily quickly, like a technological exponential curve, while regulation often moved more slowly, like an arithmetic progression.
Taruna said pharmacists played a vital role at BPOM. According to data he presented, around 70 per cent of BPOM employees have a background in pharmacy. Nearly 60 per cent of its senior middle-ranking officials and almost 100 per cent of its senior junior-ranking officials are also pharmacists.
He made the remarks while addressing the inauguration of the central board of the Indonesian Pharmacists Association (IAI) for the 2026–2030 term.
“Congratulations to the newly inaugurated central board of the Indonesian Pharmacists Association for the 2026–2030 term. We appreciate IAI’s commitment to developing pharmacists’ competence and professionalism in support of national health development,” Taruna said.
The BPOM chief also called on pharmacists, particularly the IAI central board as a key stakeholder, to build a strategic partnership in drafting future regulations.
“As we prepare future regulations, we very much need our colleagues in the pharmacy profession. We need your academic and professional input to develop these rules. I invite pharmacists to take part in the various decisions and regulations we will make,” he said.
“As BPOM chief, I welcome input on everything the agency does. As a member of the Indonesian Pharmacists Association, I would be very comfortable receiving criticism, suggestions and advice from all of you,” he added.
Separately, Health Ministry Director General for Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Lucia Rizka Andalusia congratulated the newly inaugurated board. She said she was confident that IAI, as a major organisation in the pharmaceutical sector, would help foster pharmacists’ professionalism.
IAI central board chair for 2026–2030 Lilik Yusuf Indrajaya underscored the importance of expanding dialogue with the Health Ministry, BPOM, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and other stakeholders. He said the discussions would help resolve issues constructively and establish professional partnerships.