Tangerang. Generic drugs constitute around 90 percent of the medications available in the Indonesian market, ensuring that people have access to affordable medication, according to the Association of Indonesian Pharmacists (IAI).

“We want to clarify media reports claiming that drug prices in Indonesia are very expensive,” IAI Chairman Noffendri Roestam said during a forum group discussion hosted by the business newspaper Investor Daily on Wednesday.

“Drugs marketed as generic or under generic brands account for 90 percent of the pharmacy market share,” Noffendri said at the B-Universe Media Holdings office in Pantai Indah Kapuk 2, Tangerang, Banten province.

The remaining 10 percent consists of patented drugs, which are priced significantly higher, he added.

Moreover, the vast majority of drugs sold in Indonesia are produced by local pharmacies, as the national pharmaceutical industry has achieved a certain level of self-sufficiency, Noffendri noted.

However, the government's drug price cap has hindered the pharmacy industry's ability to increase profit margins and allocate substantial funding for research and development (R&D), he said.

“The government needs to review the current price cap, especially under the national health insurance program, to allow the local pharmacy industry to allocate a significant R&D budget,” Noffendri urged.

Quality drugs play an important role in improving the life expectancy of the Indonesian people, Noffendri concluded.