TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Minister of State-owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir stated that state-owned pharmaceutical companies will soon boost the production of 4.7 million face masks which will be distributed by the end of March.

"On March 31, there will be 4.7 million face masks available. It will only be produced by SOEs. I cannot determine the number of production for [pharmaceutical firms] in the private sector," said Erick Thohir in his report on Friday, March 20, 2020.

Erick Thohir assured that a number of state-pharmaceutical companies have obtained the necessary raw materials needed to produce the face masks following raw material scarcity not long ago.

He said the face masks will be distributed to hospitals and pharmacies across Indonesia to answer the high-demand of this commodity amid the further spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The outbreak has made face masks near-impossible to find in local drug stores and increased its selling-price up to ten folds compared to the normal price. Prior to the coronavirus crisis, face masks that were sold for IDR 20,000 - IDR 30,000 for each box containing up to 50 pieces can now be seen sold at a staggering price up to IDR 850,000.

This face mask shortage previously forced Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto to issue a temporary ban on the commodity’s exports to maintain the domestic supply on face masks.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA