Entrepreneurs make a killing mixing 'jamu' with drugs

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.