Soeharto concerned with influx of Chinese medicine

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)