Indonesian Pharmacists Association Flags Weak Drug Oversight in Retail

The Indonesian Pharmacists Association (IAI) in Aceh is raising concerns about the inadequate management of health worker distribution by the government. This issue, according to IAI Aceh Chairman Tedy Kurniawan Bakri, presents a significant hurdle for overseeing drug sales in retail outlets like supermarkets and hypermarkets. He pointed out that despite Indonesia producing over 13,000 new pharmacists annually, their distribution remains a critical problem.

Bakri specifically criticized the new PerBPOM Regulation No. 5 of 2026, suggesting it might legitimize the sale of medicines without proper pharmaceutical supervision. "If selling medicine without supervision was considered wrong before, and now its technical aspects are being regulated, the public will naturally ask if this wrongdoing is being legalized," he stated. The IAI has consistently opposed the sale of medicines without supervision, emphasizing that drugs carry risks, including side effects and potential for misuse, making education and oversight essential.

The IAI Aceh also addressed the issue of a surplus of pharmacy graduates unable to find work. Bakri argued that the country has failed to establish a robust system for training and distributing health workers equitably. He called for greater government support, such as business capital assistance and incentives, to encourage pharmacists to open practices in remote areas. "If pharmaceutical services are to reach remote areas, the state should strengthen support for opening pharmacies and distributing health workers, not lower drug oversight standards," Bakri asserted.

He stressed that programs like Nusantara Sehat, aimed at equitable health worker distribution, need reinforcement to improve healthcare access in remote regions. "We are not refusing out of professional interest, but because public safety must be the top priority. The state should strengthen the health system, not lower its oversight standards," he added.