Jokowi: Chloroquine Use Must Be Prescribed by Doctors
Translator
Dewi Elvia Muthiariny
Editor
Mahinda Arkyasa
Senin, 23 Maret 2020 21:23 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said that the government now has a stock of three million Chloroquine produced by state-owned pharmaceutical firm PT Kimia Farma.
"I need to say that Chloroquine is not the first-line drugs, but a second-line one," the President said through his personal Instagram social media account on Monday, March 23, 2020.
Even though there was no proven cure to treat coronavirus patients, the state head opined that Chloroquine had been used in several countries to cure the patients and they had been declared healthy.
Jokowi further asserted that Chloroquine is not an over-the-counter drug. "It requires a doctor's prescription. So it will only be used for COVID-19 patients in hospital should the doctor prescribes it," he added.
Earlier, State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Erick Thohir said the government decided to administer Chloroquine to fight COVID-19. If it is evidently effective, PT Kimia Farma will produce it, he added.
In addition to Chloroquine, Erick said the government also procured Avigan from Japan to treat the people diagnosed with COVID-19.
"At present, there is a demand for Avigan among many countries to treat their people diagnosed with COVID-19," the minister pointed out.
EKO WAHYUDI l FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA
