The National Formulary (Fornas) is a list of selected drugs needed and used as a reference for writing prescriptions in the implementation of health services in the implementation of health insurance programs.

The drug selection process in the National Formulary (Fornas) is in line with the priority activities on the health transformation agenda, namely meeting drug needs, increasing the utilization of domestically produced drugs, utilizing health biotechnology, including pharmacogenomics-based drug selection considerations.

Fornas is a dynamic living document, which can be updated when there is new evidence related to drugs, both in terms of indications and safety issues. As a form of actualization of the Fornas update, the Fornas Team has carried out a series of discussions on the proposed Fornas drugs.

In preparing Fornas, there are several drug criteria that need to be considered, namely:

• The drug has a distribution license and indication approved by the POM.
• The drug has the best efficacy and safety based on the latest and valid scientific evidence.
• The drug has the most favorable benefit-risk ratio for the patient and the highest benefit-cost ratio.
• The drug does not yet have a distribution license, but is urgently needed in public health services (orphan drug) and has no commercial value.

As a follow-up to the proposed Fornas drugs, the Directorate General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices of the Indonesian Ministry of Health through the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Management and Services held a “National Formulary Review Meeting for 2024” on August 19 to 20, 2024 in Jakarta.

The Director of Pharmaceutical Management and Services, Agusdini Banun Saptaningsih, said that the National Formulary Review was carried out through documented, transparent and accountable stages of activity by involving various relevant stakeholders including the health technology assessment committee and / or clinical consideration board; considering efficacy, benefit-cost ratio, benefit-risk ratio and availability, as well as Pharmacoeconomic analysis studies.

Agusdini further said that Fornas is reviewed every 2 years at the most, to adjust to the advancement of science and technology, but between changes in the Fornas edition it is possible to conduct an addendum / review of Fornas if a drug is obtained that is urgently needed (urgent) or there is new evidence that supports the need for changes to the applicable Fornas.

The activity, which was officially opened by the Director General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices L. Rizka Andalucia, was carried out in a hybrid manner by involving the Fornas Team, representatives of Health Professional Associations/Organizations, representatives of the National Population and Family Planning Agency, representatives of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency, representatives of BPJS Health, representatives of Pharmaceutical SOEs, representatives of the International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group (IPMG), and representatives of the Indonesian Pharmaceutical Association (GP).

“I believe that the Fornas review process that has been carried out by the Ministry of Health together with the Fornas Team - National Committee for Drug and Phytopharmaca Selection, will provide the best results for the people of Indonesia, especially in health services in the health insurance program.” said the Director General.

It is hoped that these efforts can improve the rationality of drug use and the accuracy of drug use, improve the success of therapy and achieve the highest degree of public health.