Soeharto concerned with influx of Chinese medicine

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday called on producers of traditional Indonesian herbal medicines, or jamu, to improve their products to stem the trend of people turning to traditional remedies from China.

"Our producers should be careful their products aren't outsmarted by the Chinese, whose traditional medicines have entered the country in very large, almost uncontrollable, amounts," said Minister of Health Sujudi, quoting the President after meeting with him yesterday.

Soeharto pointed out during the meeting that while Chinese remedies are gaining the upper hand -- ironically among the upper classes -- Indonesian products are in fact more reliable, Sujudi said.

For this reason, Soeharto ordered Indonesian jamu producers to take part in more intensive research and development activities.

Sujudi admitted that until now, the government possesses minimal information on the amount of legal and illegal Chinese medicines distributed in the country.

He assured however that the matter was being handled by the Directorate General of Medicine and Food Control, which would hopefully gain an understanding into the nature of the foreign remedies.

Sujudi said the government is insisting that China make thorough check-ups on its exports, both at the provincial and national levels.

Another worrisome aspect of the problem, he added, was that the Chinese remedies are far more expensive in Indonesia than in China.

Sujudi last week said upon returning from a trip to China that he was impressed by the Chinese health system which recognizes both conventional and traditional medicines.

He said that the government is now studying the possibility of incorporating traditional medicine with conventional medicines in state hospitals.

The Ministry of Health plans to send officials to China soon to study the system applied there. (pwn)