BPOM moves to mitigate Strait of Hormuz impact on drug industry

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) is taking regulatory and collaborative measures to safeguard the supply of pharmaceutical raw materials in Indonesia amid renewed geopolitical tensions affecting the Strait of Hormuz.

BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar explained that 90 percent of pharmaceutical raw materials in Indonesia are still imported. These materials consist of three types: raw materials, intermediate materials, and finished materials, but are repackaged in Indonesia.

"We understand that our national pharmaceutical needs are part of national resilience. If medicines are insufficient, it endangers our health and national security," he stated on Monday.

To reduce this dependence, Ikrar said BPOM is improving regulations and systems while allowing the pharmaceutical industry to diversify its supply chains in the event of disruptions.

According to him, drug packaging also requires attention, as geopolitical tensions could affect its supply chain. To address this risk, BPOM is collaborating with a coalition of pharmaceutical entrepreneurs.

"We had expected the situation in the Strait of Hormuz to improve, but uncertainty remains and continues to pose challenges. Therefore, we are also working with the pharmaceutical industry association to address the issue," he continued.

However, he confirmed that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz would not have a significant impact on the national cosmetics industry, as raw material imports do not reach 90 percent, unlike the pharmaceutical industry.

He noted that Indonesia's rich biodiversity and mineral resources offer significant potential as raw materials for the cosmetics industry.

Previously, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced the indefinite closure of the Strait of Hormuz after a ship accused of disobeying sailing instructions was stopped after being hit by warning shots.

In a statement quoted by the official IRNA news agency on Sunday, the IRGC said several ships attempted to pass through unauthorized routes despite repeated warnings to change course and use approved routes.

The IRGC also said that one ship turned off its operating system, endangering shipping safety.

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Translator: Mecca Yumna, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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