Misuse of Certain Medicines Under Scrutiny in South Kalimantan as BPOM Intensifies Oversight

South Kalimantan has emerged as a hotspot for the circulation and misuse of certain medicines (referred to hereafter as OOT). The Provincial Office of the National Agency for Drug and Food Control (BPOM) in South Kalimantan launched a national action to prevent the misuse of these medicines.

The launch was held at the BPOM Banjarbaru hall on Monday, 18 May. The event was attended by the Provincial Government of South Kalimantan, representatives of regional heads, the Forkopimda, and other stakeholders. The national action was marked by the signing of a Commitment by all stakeholders to play their respective roles in line with their functions to prevent the misuse of these medicines.

Acting Head of BPOM Banjarbaru, Ary Yustantiningsih, emphasised that BPOM Banjarbaru would vigorously monitor from upstream to downstream while also conducting public outreach about the dangers of misusing these medicines.

“Do not let these certain medicines become recreational consumption by the public,” Ary Yustantiningsih said.

She acknowledged that the province of South Kalimantan is one of the areas at risk of misuse of OOT, which are essentially intended for medical purposes but are often misused for non-medical reasons. Based on a nationwide evaluation by BPOM RI, 23 provinces are suspected of involvement in the circulation of certain medicines, including South Kalimantan.

BPOM warned that the impact of misusing OOT cannot be taken lightly. In addition to physical and mental disturbances, improper use of medicines can trigger dependence and broader social problems. The distribution of certain medicines is often conducted through delivery services or couriers.

To address this, the agency has partnered with customs and security authorities to ensure that the distribution of these medicines is channelled legally and that their use complies with doctors’ prescription recommendations.

Adi Santoso, Governor’s Special Assistant for Government and Politics, said the Government of South Kalimantan supports the national action to prevent the misuse of these medicines. “The impact of misuse of certain medicines is very dangerous for the younger generation and can threaten the government’s efforts to realise Indonesia’s golden generation,” he said.