news

Health Minister Prof. Dante Emphasizes The Importance Of Ensuring Medicine Reaches Remote Areas

The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) of Indonesia, along with several health organizations, held a meeting to develop a national formulary in Jakarta on Tuesday (11/6). One of the topics discussed was the administration of basal insulin, a type of long-acting insulin, at primary health care facilities (FKTP).

Deputy Minister of Health of Indonesia Prof. Dr. Dante SaksonoHarbuwono emphasized the importance of ensuring that medications, including insulin, can reach remote areas in Indonesia. Currently, insulin can only be administered at referral health facilities or hospitals, while access to hospitals in remote areas is very difficult.

"I had the opportunity to visit very remote areas in the islands of Maluku, Papua, in various regions of Sulawesi where reaching a hospital takes hours, some even have to travel by boat for 8 hours, depending on the natural conditions," said Prof. Dante.

"So, in Medical Schools, understanding the use of insulin is very important for them to be equipped to use insulin at FKTP. If the initiation, the element with minimal risk is ideal," said Prof. Dante.

"I appeal to all of you for the remote areas, hopefully these remote areas can still use multiple dose insulin from FKTP with guidance provided by educational institutions and others," he added.

In response, Clinical Pharmacologist Prof. RiantoSetiabudy said they must consider the best way out, which is initiating insulin therapy especially for remote areas.

"However, for very remote areas, we make exceptions. Then, the staff at FKTP must be given special training to be able to administer this medication safely," said Prof. Rianto.

He added that implementing insulin therapy at FKTP is a practical solution for remote areas.