Professor Chandra: Medicines are expensive in Indonesia, one of the reasons why our people go abroad for treatment

Report by Tribunnews.com reporter Rina Ayu

TRIBUNNEWS.COM, Jakarta – Former Director of Communicable Diseases, World Health Organization Southeast Asia Region Professor Tjandra Yoga Aditama Urge the government to reduce prices immediately drug– Pharmaceuticals in Indonesia.

According to him, the price is no longer a secret drug In neighboring countries like Malaysia, it is much cheaper than in Indonesia.

In addition, his experience of living and serving in India also proves that the prices of similar drugs are cheaper in India.

Also read: Indonesian medicines are expensive, the Minister of Health revealed that the Health Industry Association recommends price cuts

“Waiting for the government to take concrete measures, so… drug “What people consume can be much cheaper, like what people in Malaysia and India enjoy,” he told reporters on Wednesday (7/3/2024).

The director of the Graduate School of Yalsi University said that high housing prices are not only for drug There are also medical devices, which ultimately affects the price of health services, making them more expensive.

“That’s one of the reasons why there are a lot of reports that some health measures in neighboring countries are indeed cheaper, because drugIt is much cheaper, and so are other tests. “It is probably one of the reasons why millions of our citizens go abroad for treatment,” Professor Jandra said.

Choose to buy medicines from India

He said he still eats it regularly. drug Purchased in India.

When a colleague from WHO went to Jakarta from New Delhi, he asked a friend from WHO to buy and bring drug-poison.

Here is a price comparison drug Consumption in Indonesia and India: One tablet of atorvastatin 20 mg costs 6,160 rupiah in a pharmacy in Jakarta, while in India it costs only 4.9 Indian rupees, or 1,000 rupiah.

So, 1 tablet of clopidogrel 75 mg costs 7,835 IDR in Jakarta, but only 7.7 INR, or 1,540 IDR, in India.

The third drug, Telmisartan 40mg, is sold at Rp5,198 in Jakarta, while its price in India is only Rp7.4, or Rp1,500.

“final, drug My wife’s hypertension Concord 2.5 mg costs IDR 10,711 in Jakarta, but in India it costs only INR 7.8, or IDR 1,560. drug “The price in Jakarta is six times that in New Delhi,” he said.

It says that in all finishes drug In India, prices are always listed.

The price is the same if you buy it in any city in India.

Of course, it is strictly controlled by the Indian government.

“This is a good example that can also be applied in Indonesia, with two advantages. The first advantage is that people know the exact price because it is printed on the packaging. drugand the benefits of both prices are the same in all regions,” Professor Tjandra explained.