With more than 28000 plant species and 2,848 medicinal plants, Indonesia has the second-highest biodiversity in the world. Its natural resources hold tremendous promise for developing phytopharmaceuticals and herbal medicines, including Indonesia Indigenous Modern Medicine (IIMM). Penny K. Lukito, head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), stated that the government prioritizes the creation of natural medicines in all areas. So that the national pharmaceutical industry is encouraged to develop raw materials for natural medicines to achieve national independence.
“All ministry and institutional wish for natural treatments to take precedence. 25% of the raw materials to make natural component extracts are currently imported. So, our goal is that the domestic industry takes the 25% portion to make good quality and sustainable products,” said Mrs. Penny at the National Convention “National Independence in the Provision of Raw Materials for Natural Medicines as an Effort to Improve Quality and Product Competitiveness” in Sukoharjo Regency, Surakarta Thursday (04/08/2022).
According to Mrs. Penny, Indonesia offers a lot of possibilities for developing natural medical raw materials. Sales of national herbs and herbal medicines in Indonesia are estimated to reach Rp. 23 trillion by 2025. Furthermore, according to the WHO, by 2050, the market for medical plants might be worth USD 5 trillion. This potential also creates chances for the sector to export and establish itself as a significant player in the international market.
“We are now concentrating on the natural component extract market. How does BPOM help the sector maintain a sustainable, high-quality, and adequate supply? Of course, BPOM continues to support the natural product industry’s growth and competitiveness,” she added.
A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the Independence of Natural Medicine Raw Materials was held as part of this series of events to discuss the prospects and difficulties for national independence in the supply of natural medicinal raw materials. Plt. According to Dr. Yuli Widiyastuti, the Director of the Research Center for Raw Materials for Medicines and Traditional Medicines at BRIN, the raw material industry for natural medicines faces complex issues from upstream to downstream, ranging from the lack of data on the need for the amount and type of raw materials for natural medicines to problems with accessing distribution networks and market information.
“Simplicia’s vendors frequently choose to export since there is no domestic demand. Farmers’ interest in growing medicinal plants is still low because of the lack of data on demand and the dominance of collection farmers, not growers, among producers. This thing also has an impact on quality,” Dr. Yuli stated.
The government has developed various action plans to improve the production of raw materials for natural medicines to address these difficulties. These include gathering information on the quantity and variety of demands, locating production hubs, bolstering farmer institutions, and simplicia collectors, and creating an online platform for distributing natural medical raw materials. Dr. Yuli said, “We also support research on the creation of raw materials for natural medicines and source diversification for raw materials for imported natural medicines, ”
Meanwhile, Irmanida Batubara, the director of the Center for Tropical Biopharmaceutical Studies at LPPM IPB, stated that the other natural ingredients industry (IEBA) is dedicated to supplying high-quality natural medicinal raw materials for the nation and has a strategic role in managing that influences quality.
“The processing of simplias into extracts as the finished product involves IEBA. Standardizing plant seeds, harvests, simplicia, and extracts is necessary to create formulae and goods. Business players contribute to the growth, upkeep, and assurance of market functions, as well as quality and procedures,” He said.
Participation of Dexa Group at the Natural Ingredients Extract Industry Virtual Expo (IEBA)
Additionally, from August 4 to August 11, 2022, Dexa Group participated in several Virtual Expose Natural Ingredients Industry (IEBA) events. One of the 17 natural ingredient extract industries (IEBA) dedicated to assisting the natural medicine sector in its quest for national independence is the Dexa Group.
Mr. V Hery Sutanto, President Director of PT Dexa Medica, stated that Dexa Group dedicates to supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Dexa Grop supports traditional medicine in the context of the national independence of natural medicinal raw materials through sharing forums.
“Dexa Group supports and appreciates the government’s efforts to encourage the development of the phytopharmaceutical industry with the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency. Through the support of the sharing forum later, we hope to encourage MSMEs to fulfill Good Traditional Medicine Manufacturing Practices to improve the quality and competitiveness of traditional medicines,” explained Mr. V. Hery Sutanto.
PT Dexa Medica Plant Manager Mr. Edward Widjojokusumo stated during a sharing forum that the Dexa Group, as a player in the natural extract market, uses cutting-edge technology in the form of Bioactive Fraction. This technology is to create premium, standardized, and price-competitive natural products made from indigenous Indonesian plants.
Additionally, Dexa Medica informs visitors about the research and development of herbal products from Indonesia and phytopharmaceuticals from Dexa Laboratories of Biomolecular Sciences (DLBS) research through building a virtual booth.
DLBS is the company’s research division focusing on discovery and research activities made from natural ingredients. DLBS finds active ingredients that are original from Indonesia, both plants, animals, and microbes, to improve the quality of human life and work together. Also, train farmers to produce quality natural ingredients, standardized as raw materials for natural products known as Indonesian Indigenous Modern Medicine (IIMM).
Photo: Humas BPOM RI