POM to become independent body directly under President

JAKARTA (JP): In line with the implementation of regional autonomy, the Directorate General of Food and Drug Control (POM) will separate from the Ministry of Health to become an independent body directly under the President's supervision.

POM's director general Sampurno told reporters on Wednesday that the change was not official yet but would be realized sometime this month.

"POM will remain under the central government's control. But we will be networking with local governments through our offices in 26 provinces," he said.

To fill newly created positions there will be some 2,500 employees recruited, according to Sampurno.

He revealed that it would also be essential to place a unit of POM's personnel in every airport and seaport throughout the country to prevent the smuggling of medicines and food.

"I have proposed this matter to the state minister of administrative reform," he said.

POM will also place its personnel in the country's border areas, especially West Kalimantan and Batam in Riau, which are prone to smuggling.

"Combating smuggling has really been a headache," he said.

Sampurno added that his office would also coordinate with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise and a new agency called the National Quarantine Body, which will isolate animals and plants for safety purposes.

The new body will fall under the Coordinating Minister for the Economy's auspices, Sampurno said.

He said the local governments have enough resources to perform the controlling job.

"Laboratories and equipment in the regions are relatively competent, such as those in the Irian Jaya capital of Jayapura. We've tried to fulfill the equipment needs for every lab over the past three years," he said.(hdn)