Key ingredients: Scientific, safe and honest
Irwan Hidayat, Contributor, Jakarta
"Back to nature". This credo is gaining more popularity in recent years. This and the abundant information on health currently available have triggered an increased preference for herbal medicines. To meet the growing demand, a number of pharmaceutical companies worldwide have launched various herbal- based products.
This trend is not only taking place in Indonesia, but, in fact, several European countries and the United States already started paying serious attention to the alternative remedies some 35 years ago.
Although in some aspects Indonesia may be lagging behind other countries, the country is one of the richest in the world in regards to the number of species of flora. This treasure trove offers the pharmaceuticals industry here opportunities as well as challenges at the same time to make the most effective use of the country's potential in contributing toward public health.
Theoretically at least, with the enormous natural resources of raw material for herbal medicines available here, Indonesia should be self-supporting in this sector. Being less dependent on other countries, obviously huge amounts of money spent on importing raw materials can be saved. Next, the country's bargaining position in the global market, especially in the area of herbal products, is also further improved.
It is time to realize that one of the country's assets -- our herbal products -- can open up the door to global marketing. Though some improvement must be made in the technology and manufacturing methods, this does not pose as a serious problem. In today's situation where information can be accessed from almost anywhere, the right kind of technology can be purchased and even further developed. However, our business people, especially those with the enterprising spirit, should be creative as well as persistent.
While taking care of the technology aspect, in the meantime local manufacturers can export semi-finished products until such time when fully-finished products with quality of international standard can be produced by each manufacturer. Without reliable quality, local manufacturers do not stand a chance of succeeding in the tough global competition.
Manufacturers of herbal medicines here must fully realize the importance of the image, both the image of their products and their company. With new mindset and attitudes, they must strive to upgrade the image of jamu (local herbal medicine) that is regarded as traditional and, worse, unscientific. The first step for them to take is to apply similar standards of good manufacturing methods of their counterparts, the modern manufacturers of scientific and research-based drugs.
For manufacturers specializing in the production of herbal and herbal-based medicines, the government has aptly issued regulations pertaining to good manufacturing methods of traditional-cum-herbal medicines. However, it is very much in the hands of the players in this industry to strictly adhere to them or, better, even exceed the set standard.
Just like the rest of the pharmaceutical industry, manufacturers of herbal medicines have to follow the same basic principals: scientific, safe and honest.
The benefits of each herbal product have to be proven scientifically, not only based on empiric evidence. The level of toxicity among its safe-to-consume features should be determined in the most scientific way to avoid consumers' doubt which may turn into utter disbelief. False claims or overpromising should be totally avoided, because, worse than becoming a laughing matter, they may cause fatalities. Health, apart from being a human rights issue, is serious business. So only highly committed players with a real sense of responsibility can enter this industry.
Only by conscientiously sticking to these principles, can the herbal medicine producers gain their customers' trust. Like in every business and relationship, especially where health care products are concerned, trust is everything. Without it, the unethical players may ruin the entire industry's image and huge potential. -- The writer is president director of PT Sido Muncul, manufacturer of herbal medicines located in Central Java