JAKARTA - The pharmaceutical and medical device industries have been determined to be strategic sectors in the application of industry 4.0. When Covid-19 entered the country, the demand for vitamins, supplements and drugs to boost immunity increased. In line with the high demand in this sector, the government added the medical device and pharmaceutical sector to the priority sector in Making Indonesia 4.0.
"The medical device and pharmaceutical industry sectors are in the high demand category amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, the government continues to strive to improve the competitiveness of the medical device and pharmaceutical industry sector by encouraging the transformation of digital-based technology. The use of digital technology starts from the production stage to distribution to consumers," said Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, in Jakarta, Wednesday (14/4).
One of the speakers, Secretary of the Directorate General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices of the Ministry of Health, Arianti Anaya said that the Ministry of Health (Kemkes) had made a road map to accelerate the development of the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry towards industry 4.0, in line with the Making Indonesia 4.0 program led by the Ministry of Industry (Ministry of Industry).
She added, there is a growth in the production facilities for medical devices that continue to increase. From 193 companies in 2015, then it has reached 891 companies in 2021. "In the last five years, the domestic medical equipment industry has grown by 698 industries or an increase of 361.66%," added Arianti.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, until 2021, there are 271 pharmaceutical formulation industries, 17 pharmaceutical raw material industries, 132 traditional medicine industries, 18 natural product extraction industries. This figure has increased from year to year. Pharmaceutical products and medical devices in Indonesia have been exported to several countries, such as the Netherlands, England, Poland, Nigeria, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, Singapore, South Korea and the United States. (LM)