BPOM's WHO Listed Authority Status Boosts Domestic Pharmaceutical Sales
Jakarta — PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia has praised the achievement of Indonesia’s pharmaceutical regulator, the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), in obtaining WHO Listed Authority (WLA) status from the World Health Organization. This milestone is expected to significantly impact the prospects for domestic pharmaceutical products.
Andreas Donny Prakarsa, Director of Corporate Relations at PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia, stated that the WLA status obtained by BPOM is far more than symbolic; it directly impacts the domestic pharmaceutical industry. Several countries are now reaching out to Indonesian pharmaceutical producers to explore export opportunities for national medicines.
He cited his own company’s experience. As a firm staffed predominantly by young employees, Etana was initially uncertain whether Indonesian pharmaceuticals could compete in international markets. However, following BPOM’s achievement of WLA status, Etana’s confidence has increased significantly, as the company’s products now have potential for global market penetration.
“Our production teams and staff have also gained confidence. Once we’ve been inspected by BPOM and registered through BPOM, we realised that our standards are equivalent to those in America and Europe. This significantly boosts the confidence of our young staff,” he said at a Health Forum discussing “BPOM Achieves WLA Status: What Benefits Does It Bring to Business Operators?” on Friday, 27 February 2026.
He added that BPOM will conduct regular inspections of Etana’s pharmaceutical products, followed by evaluations at both pre-market and post-market stages. This has made Etana more confident in its pharmaceutical products and company data.
With BPOM’s WLA status, Etana is now prepared to compete at the global level. Furthermore, Etana possesses valuable human resources predominantly composed of young professionals, many of whom are alumni of foreign universities who have returned to Indonesia.
“As an Indonesian nation, with BPOM and WLA status, we truly should not feel inferior anymore. We should be equal with developed nations in the world,” he concluded.