One of the mandates of health transformation is to increase the resilience of the pharmaceutical and medical device sector, including the resilience of the natural ingredients sector consisting of products and raw materials. Since 2012, the Ministry of Health has provided facilitation of post-harvest equipment and laboratory equipment to 18 (eighteen) regions.

The Center for Post-Harvest Processing of Medicinal Plants (P4TO) is expected to become a center for providing and utilizing medicinal plants in the regions. However, until now P4TO has not entirely run optimally due to several obstacles and problems faced.

Therefore, on June 6, 2023, the "Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Cooperation Agreement (PKS) for Revitalization of P4TO Equipment in 2023" was held. In his report, Plt. Director of Pharmaceutical Production and Distribution Roy Himawan said that this meeting was held in order to carry out the signing of cooperation between the Ministry of Health and 6 (six) regions receiving revitalization of P4TO equipment in 2023, which aims to increase the optimization of P4TO in the regions, especially in the provision of sustainable standardized natural raw materials and other developments needed by the regions.

The six regions receiving P4TO equipment revitalization in 2023 are East Java Province (Materia Medica Batu), Bali Province (Bangli Regency), South Kalimantan Province, Tegal Regency, Bondowoso Regency, and Pekalongan City.

In her remarks, Director General of Pharmaceuticals L. Rizka Andalusia said that the commitment and active role of local governments are highly expected to increase the optimization of P4TO in the regions to be able to achieve the target in meeting the needs of natural raw materials for industries and businesses in the field of traditional medicines and cosmetics in Indonesia.

"Local governments need to improve various aspects ranging from human resources / managers, utilization of potential natural resources that can be cultivated in the region, optimization of existing equipment, as well as downstreaming and increasing the use of P4TO production products," said Director General Rizka.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Mayor of Pekalongan, Head of the Pekalongan City Health Office, representatives from the Health Offices of East Java Province, Bali Province, South Kalimantan Province, Tegal Regency, Bondowoso Regency, and Pekalongan City; Special Staff of the Minister of Health for the Resilience of the BPOM Drug and Medical Devices Industry, the Legal Bureau of the Ministry of Health, the Inspectorate General of the Ministry of Health, and members of the PED Technical Team (Regional Extract Center) and P4TO.

In addition to the signing, a discussion was held with the material Potential Development of P4TO in the provision of standardized natural raw materials which will discuss various potentials and problems in the development of P4TO in the regions so that agreements can be reached and steps that need to be taken by cross-sectors.

Through this signing, it is hoped that there will be collaboration and synergy between the central and regional governments to play an active role in strengthening commitment and succeeding the health transformation agenda which is targeted to be completed in 2024.