Culture Ministry Pushes for National Roadmap on Nusantara Traditional Medicine Systems

The Ministry of Culture (Kemenbud) has launched a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) to formulate the Nusantara Traditional Medicine System Roadmap (TAWARUPA) in Jakarta. The initiative aims to create a national policy direction for developing Indonesia’s traditional medicine systems, integrating them with modern science, and enhancing their global competitiveness. Minister of Culture Fadli Zon emphasized that traditional medicine is a living cultural heritage, shaped by centuries of community experience and passed down through generations via language, manuscripts, and practices. He stated that this knowledge demonstrates that the Nusantara people have long developed ways to survive, care for one another, and adapt to a complex tropical environment. Fadli Zon highlighted the need to strengthen phytopharmaceuticals—medicines derived from natural ingredients—as a bridge between local wisdom and biotechnology. He argued that developing these natural medicines could reduce dependency on imported drugs and strengthen national health sovereignty. The roadmap aligns with the World Health Organization’s global strategy on traditional medicine, which emphasizes scientific evidence, safety, and respect for cultural heritage. The initiative follows UNESCO’s recognition of Jamu as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2023. The discussion involved various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency, and traditional medicine practitioners, aiming to produce concrete recommendations for a modern, inclusive, and research-based national system.