Indonesia is rich in biological resources, has 2,848 plant species that have been utilized into 32,014 medicinal herbs based on Ristoja in 2017. Traditional medicine is divided into 3 (three) categories based on the level of evidence of safety and benefits, namely herbal medicine, Standardized Herbal Medicine (OHT) and phytopharmaca.
The safety and benefits of OHT have been scientifically proven through pre-clinical trials and the raw materials used have been standardized. Currently, there are 80 OHT products divided into 20 indication categories, while Phytopharmaca is a traditional medicine whose safety and efficacy have been scientifically proven through clinical trials, raw materials and products have been standardized. There are currently 26 phytopharmaceutical products divided into 7 indication categories.
With the publication of the Phytopharmacology Formulary, which consists of Guidelines for the Preparation and Application of Phytopharmacology, a List of Phytopharmacology, and Information on selected Phytopharmacology Products that can be used in health care facilities, efforts need to be made to increase the trust of practitioners/health workers and increase the use of OHT and Phytopharmacology.
To encourage this, the Directorate General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices through the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Production and Distribution needs to carry out activities to increase the use of phytopharmacology to the Eastern Regional Government which is carried out online through the zoom meeting media and streaming live youtube and offline at the Claro Hotel Makassar on October 20, 2022. This activity was attended by 500 participants who were representatives of the Provincial / Regency / City Health Office, Universities, Associations, and Practitioners who attended offline.
Director General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, L. Rizka Andalucia in her speech revealed, "Phytopharmaca development aims to increase the use of traditional medicines or natural medicines through an evidence-based medicine approach in order to increase the acceptance of clinicians and the public".
She also added that the Ministry of Health will accelerate the use of domestic products and products of micro, small and cooperative enterprises in order to succeed the National Movement for Proud Indonesian Products (BBI) in accordance with Presidential Instruction No. 2 of 2022, one of which is through the process of displaying phytopharmaceuticals in the health sectoral electronic catalog.
In addition to webinar activities and question and answer discussions, this meeting also introduced several natural medicine products that have obtained marketing authorization.
