Spokesperson of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Prof. Wiku Adisasmito stressed that COVID-19 treatment drugs must be tested by firstly being subject to clinical trials.

“This is a mandatory stage before medicines are used by the general public,” Adisasmito noted while speaking in connection with the COVID-19 antiviral drug Molnupiravir at a press conference monitored online here Tuesday.

Adisasmito noted that Indonesia was open to all alternative types of treatment in a bid to increase the COVID-19 recovery rate in the country.

“The government will immediately inform about updates on the development of drugs and health materials to support COVID-19 treatment,” the spokesperson remarked.

Earlier, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin had stated that his ministry will conduct evaluations and clinical trials for COVID-19 treatment drugs that are currently in circulation.

“The Ministry of Health will continue to cooperate with the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) and several hospitals to review and conduct clinical trials for new drugs,” the minister remarked.

Sadikin noted that evaluation and clinical trials will be conducted on drugs, both monoclonal antibody drugs and new antiviral drugs, such as Molnupiravir from Merck & Co.

“We have approached the manufacturers of those drugs. We have also planned to start clinical trials for some drugs,” he stated.

Sadikin expressed hope that by the end of this year, COVID-19 medicines suitable for Indonesian citizens would be available.

The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Indonesia in March 2020.

According to data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), as of October 5, 2021, at least 4,221,610 people have tested positive for COVID-19, while 4,049,449 people have recovered, and 142,338 people have succumbed to the deadly virus.

Source: Antara News