JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS– Health expert from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Indonesia (FKUI), Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama, emphasized the need for Indonesia to adopt India’s success in making pharmaceuticals and medical equipment more affordable for the public.

Prof. Tjandra made these remarks following the bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and India in the health sector, during President Prabowo Subianto’s official visit for India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations.

Tjandra shared his personal experience when he served as the Director of the WHO Southeast Asia’s Infectious Diseases Division from 2015 to 2020, where he lived in India. He regularly bought medications in New Delhi, including those to control his cholesterol and blood pressure, which were of high quality and affordable.

He compared the prices of commonly used medications in Jakarta and India, revealing significant price differences. For instance, Atorvastatin 20 mg in Jakarta costs IDR 6,160 per tablet, whereas in India, it only costs IDR 1,000, six times cheaper. Other medications like Clopidogrel 75 mg and Telmisartan 40 mg also showed similar price disparities.

Tjandra noted that in India, all medicine packaging clearly lists the market prices, which are consistent across the country, ensuring accessibility. This strict price control by the Indian government serves as a good example for Indonesia to consider.

He further mentioned that the high cost of medicines and medical equipment in Indonesia also drives up healthcare service prices. Tjandra hopes that the Indonesian government will take concrete steps to make healthcare more affordable, similar to the prices in India.