Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian government and the World Health Organization (WHO) have partnered to strengthen post-market surveillance of traditional medicines and health supplements, aiming to ensure consumer safety and unlock the country’s bioeconomic potential.
Speaking at a capacity-building workshop in Jakarta on Tuesday, Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) Head Taruna Ikrar highlighted Indonesia’s vast biodiversity, noting the country possesses approximately 31,000 plant species with potential medicinal applications.
Ikrar highlighted jamu, Indonesia’s traditional herbal wellness system inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, noting that BPOM has issued around 27,000 distribution permits for natural medicinal products.
He said the global traditional medicine market is projected to reach US$606 billion, with Indonesia’s domestic market potential estimated at US$20 billion.
“However, our latest data indicates that the realized market value in Indonesia currently stands at just under Rp6 trillion (approximately US$330.91 million),” Ikrar said, pointing to a vast untapped commercial opportunity.
He emphasized that bridging this gap requires addressing safety challenges, particularly the illicit adulteration of traditional remedies with synthetic chemical drugs, which poses severe public health risks including organ failure and chronic complications.
“While the market opportunities and health benefits are immense, BPOM bears the fundamental duty of ensuring robust oversight so that all products in circulation are strictly monitored and safe for consumption,” Ikrar said.
The WHO-backed workshop gathered regional BPOM officers to bolster post-market surveillance protocols across the archipelago.
WHO Indonesia National Professional Officer for Essential Drugs and Medicines Liyana Rakinaturia said the partnership is expected to boost BPOM’s regulatory capacity.
Rakinaturia stressed the importance of aligning national monitoring mechanisms with WHO global benchmarks, particularly regarding post-market safety surveillance of traditional and herbal remedies.
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Translator: Mecca Yumna, Uyu Liman
Editor: Arie Novarina
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