Indonesian President Joko Widodo has urged his ministers to lower the prices of medicines and medical equipment. Jokowi wants the prices of medical devices and medicines to be comparable to those in other countries. He conveyed this during an internal meeting with several ministers at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday (July 2). One of the attendees was Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin. 

During the meeting, Budi suggested that there should be improvements and efficiency in the trade sector. He also calls for more transparent governance of medical devices and medicines in Indonesia.  

"So that there will be no unnecessary price increases in the purchase of medical equipment and medicines," said Mr. Budi, as quoted by Antara. 

Budi mentioned that Jokowi wants the pharmaceutical and medical device industries to be more resilient in facing future pandemics.  

Additionally, Jokowi has requested that the tax structure for the health industry be simplified. The meeting also discussed the coordination of technical ministries to design the health industry ecosystem. 

Budi pointed out that one example of what needs to be addressed is the components of the health industry that are still subject to import duties.  

"The import duty on ultrasound machines is zero percent. If there is a domestic factory, the raw materials are subject to a 15 percent import duty. This is inconsistent," Mr. Budi said. 

In addition to the Health Minister, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita also attended the meeting on the health industry. 

Original article

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