Jakarta, 23 February 2023

Indonesian Minister of Health Budi G. Sadikin opened the 2023 National Health Work Meeting (Rakerkesnas) at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) which was attended by more than 800 participants from all Provincial Health Offices, District and City Health Offices, Vertical Hospitals, Central Public Hospitals in the Regions, and Public Health Laboratories.

This year's Rakerkesnas carries the theme Harmony of Central and Regional Transformation to optimize and accelerate the results of health development work. Synergize the national health system to be stronger, alert, anticipatory, responsive, and resilient in facing health threats.

Through this Rakerkesnas, the Minister of Health emphasized equitable access to health in all regions of Indonesia through 6 pillars of health transformation that must be carried out.

Of the 6 pillars, the Directorate General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices plays an active role in the implementation of pillar 3, Transformation of the Health Security System, which is carried out through domestic production of 14 routine vaccines, top 10 drugs and medical devices by volume and by value, as well as supporting the implementation of primary and referral services pillars.

Director General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, L. Rizka Andalucia in this activity said that the transformation of the health system is an urgency that must be supported by various parties.

"We must be able to collaborate with each other because synergism is the key to success in achieving the outcomes of this health system transformation. For example, in primary care transformation, where medication compliance and the provision of 40 essential drugs cannot be separated from how pharmacists as pharmaceutical gatekeepers can collaborate dynamically with doctors as prescribers to achieve patient safety," said the Director General.

Furthermore, the Director General said that in achieving the resilience of pharmaceutical preparations and medical devices, there needs to be synergism with the division of central and regional roles.

The central's role includes:

• Drafting a revision of the Health Law and Presidential Instruction 6/2016 to strengthen resilience and accelerate the independence of pharmaceuticals and medical devices
• Facilitation of change sources of drug raw materials and strengthening networks with funding institutions to increase domestic product development
• Advocacy and guidance to the industry as well as conducting business matching to meet domestic needs and improve industry capabilities.

While the role of the regional is:

• Prioritizing the procurement and use of domestically produced pharmaceutical preparations and medical devices in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations.
• Together with the center in optimizing the guidance and supervision of the use of domestic pharmaceutical products and medical devices.
• Supervision of the quality of medical equipment products and facilities in accordance with existing authorities and regulations to improve the quality of domestic products.

Through this Rakerkesnas 2023, there are a series of coaching clinic activities that facilitate Rakerkesnas participants to be able to consult regarding the implementation of activities in the field of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

In addition, on the second day, thematic discussions were held between the center and the regions and strategies and follow-up were formulated to support the implementation of health transformation including pharmaceutical and medical device resilience.