President says she got fake medicine

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri disclosed here on Monday that she was once given fake medicine by presidential doctors, an incident that draws attention to the widespread distribution of such medicine within the country.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a national pharmacists meeting, the President said she had been informed by her friend, a medical doctor, about the fake medicine.

"My friend said that the medicine was fake. Imagine, if such contraband could enter a very strictly controlled zone such as here (the presidential office)," Megawati said.

However, she did not mention when the incident took place or what sickness presidential doctors had prescribed the medicine for.

Megawati said the incident was a clear example of how widespread was the distribution of fake medicine to the public.

Megawati also called on relevant agencies to deal with the issue promptly and thoroughly.

Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) secretary-general Dodi Firmanto, however, said the statement need not cause undue concern, as the President may have been misinformed.

"She is the President, but is still an ordinary person with regard to medicine. Consequently, she should have simply asked the authorized agencies to check out the medicine," Dodi told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Dodi considered the distribution chain for fake medicine could easily be traced, especially if it were sent to the President's office, as there existed certain procedures that all pharmacists and medicine distributors in the country had to abide by.

"We should not be provoked by such a statement, as it should be clarified first," said Dodi, adding that the President's friend did not have the authority to say whether a particular medicine was fake or not.