On drugs containing PPA
In connection with the furor over influenza and cough drugs containing over 15 mg of phenylpropanolamine (PPA) per tablet, I believe that consumers must be protected in relation to health and other aspects. Prohibiting the distribution of a particular drug without providing a substitute will only be troublesome to consumers and benefit speculators.
Besides, we must not turn a blind eye to the difficulties that the pharmaceutical industries, 90 percent of whose basic and packaging materials are imported, find themselves in. The nearly 50 percent drop in the exchange rate of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar plus hikes in interest rates, fuel oil and electricity prices, are a big blow to the industrial sector in general. Despite these hikes, it is difficult to raise the selling price of industrial products because of the weak purchasing power of consumers.
In the light of this situation, Dr. Marius, chairman of YPKKI, must understand that managing a pharmaceutical industry is not as simple as managing a non-governmental organization, which neither makes a profit nor incurs losses. As long as the donations from home and abroad keep flowing, everything is plain sailing.
YPKKI has gone too far in its evaluation, which is also inaccurate, that the Food and Drug Control Agency has not shown proper responsibility, in the interests of the pharmaceutical companies. On the other hand, in my opinion, the chairman of the Food and Drug Control Agency has also gone too far when making a threat, which is also inappropriate in this context, that the agency will suspend the registration number of certain drugs if the producers fail to withdraw them within the deadline set (Suara Pembaruan of May 5 and May 8, The Jakarta Post of May 9).
Hats off to Drs. A. Haditomo, chairman of the Association of Indonesian Pharmacists, for voicing an opinion which should have been aired by the Association of Indonesian Pharmaceutical Companies (GP Farmasi). Quo vadis, GP Farmasi?
The danger entailed if the amount of PPA exceeds 15 mg per dosage is very small compared with that entailed in strong drugs like phenylbutazone, which is at present freely available in drug stores. Similarly, the danger is not like that posed by thalidomide, which necessitated immediate withdrawal. As Drs. H. Sampurno has said, drugs containing PPA have been used in Indonesia for two decades and during this period there have been no cases of damaging side effects such as cerebral hemorrhage etc.
Therefore, allow me now to urge the Food and Drug Control Agency to include drugs containing more than 15 mg of PPA per dosage in the list of strong drugs. This means that drug stores failing to surrender them but still selling them would be violating the law and could be penalized.
Drug producers now suffering from the ongoing economic crisis should not be cornered. The solution offered above may avoid the destruction of drugs containing over 15 mg of PPA per dosage as a lot of money has been spent on importing them, including the cost of packaging.
SUNARTO PRAWIROSUJANTO
Jakarta