Entrepreneurs make a killing mixing 'jamu' with drugs

By Agus Maryono

PURWOKERTO, C. Java (JP): Banyumas province in Central Java produces some of the most well-known jamu (traditional medicine) in the country, with its products reaching throughout the country, including Sulawesi, Sumatra, Kalimantan and as far away as Irian Jaya.

In fact, 80 percent of the jamu produced in the province is sold outside of Java.

"Here, it is hard to find buyers because people know the product is mixed with drugs," Sumedi, a jamu vendor, said.

Sumedi, who has been in the business for 13 years, can sell 150 boxes -- each containing 30 packets -- of Purba Sari produced jamu a month in Java.

Thousands of Banyumas residents depend on the jamu industry for their livelihood. Currently, at least 6,000 people are employed by about 400 jamu enterprises in Cilacap and Banyumas.

The biggest jamu producer, Purba Super, located in Cikampuh village, Kroya subdistrict, Cilacap, produces an average of 2,500 boxes of jamu per day with a turnover of Rp 20 million. Before the monetary crisis, its average production was 5,000 boxes per day.

Traders like Sumedi buy a box of jamu for Rp 19,000 and are able to turn around and sell the box for between Rp 30,000 and Rp 50,000.

The Banyumas jamu industry, which has been around for more than 10 years, has been plagued by allegations that its jamu is mixed with drugs. These allegations have caused concern among the community and security and health agencies.

Sony Arsono, the head of the pharmaceutical section of the Banyumas Regency Health Agency, told The Jakarta Post his agency had been aware for some time of the mixing of jamu with drugs. But he said the authority to supervise the jamu industry rested with the Directorate General of Food and Drugs and the regional office of the health ministry.

Recently, the Central Java Food and Drugs Agency, assisted by the health agency and local administrations, raided a number of jamu companies. Thousands of boxes of jamu were confiscated and burned.

However, no legal action was taken against any of the company owners, who violated the law by mixing their jamu with drugs without a permit from the health agency. After the confiscated jamu was burned, the owners were let off with a warning to stop mixing their jamu with medicine.

Now, the jamu industry here is back to business as usual.

"If it is not mixed with drugs, our jamu will not sell because it is not effective," a jamu vendor from Kroya subdistrict told the Post.

Hindun H.S., chairwoman of the Banyumas Indonesian Pharmacists Association, said the chemical content of the materials mixed with the jamu was highly dangerous. "Basically a drug is poison. If the use and dosage are not correct, the medicine can kill consumers. Certain medicinal products must be prescribed by a doctor," Hindun said.

Woro Sumarsono, 29, a former jamu producer and vendor, told the Post the process to make jamu was very simple: mix the powder of temu, a root, and a drug.

"In making jamu intended to increase body weight, the temu powder is mixed with pharmaceutical products like harsen or dexsamitason. To make an aphrodisiac, an aphrodisiac is mixed with jamu," said Woro.

Woro said small entrepreneurs mixed five kilograms of temu powder with one kg of medicine, while average larger business mixed three kgs of temu with one kg of medicine.

Ironically, the jamu bears the label "traditional". In order to hoodwink consumers, each box of jamu is stamped: "Under Supervision of the Ministry of Health." Some companies even append a false license number purportedly issued by the health ministry.

The head of the Banyumas Health Agency, Iskandar Arifin, said his agency had never issued a license for jamu products.

"How could we issue a license for jamu with such a hazardous mixture?"

He said the license numbers cited by companies and reportedly issued by the health ministry were fraudulent. He said these numbers were simply reference numbers from letters sent by the health agency.

Hindun H.S. confirms this. She is amazed jamu entrepreneurs dare to use the reference number of a letter. "Yes, we feel exasperated. The reference number of a letter is quoted as if it were a license number. They are stupid but wily."

One jamu product used the reference number from a letter sent by the health ministry to the company asking the latter to meet certain requirements in order to obtain a license from the ministry, she said.

Harto (not his real name), one of the biggest jamu producers in Banyumas, insisted his products were produced under the guidance and supervision of the health ministry.

"Health ministry officials can come at any time to give us guidance," he said. "And every time we give them an envelope containing transportation money."

He said he gave officials more than Rp 200,000 each when they visited his company. And for their part, the ministry officials offer suggestions on the keeping the production area and equipment clean. He said they rarely made reference to mixing jamu with medicine because this was considered common knowledge.

"Therefore, the unexpected raid startled us. Why wasn't this done before," the producer asked.

He admits to mixing his jamu products with drugs. He also said he based his mixtures on estimates.

"We can estimate what dosage is not dangerous," said Harto, a high school graduate. He did not want to say exactly where he obtained the large quantities of medicine. "I buy them at pharmacies and drugstores."

He also said he often made financial contributions to local authorities, both agencies and officials, to ensure his company could continue operating.

"Every time the security forces organize a ceremony, they ask us for help. We have often given them aid," he said, adding that he contributed Rp 100,000 a month to the local military headquarters and the local police station.

"Moreover, every Aug. 17 (Independence Day), or in conjunction with other ceremonies, we contribute an average of Rp one million. We also assisted in the construction of one of the buildings at the district police headquarters and the military district command headquarters, to the tune of Rp 7 million," Harto said.

"Not long ago we assisted in paving the village road by contributing more than Rp 60 million," he added.