TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) chairman Doni Monardo said that no one was allowed to recklessly claim herbal medicines as COVID-19 cure.

"We appreciate people who discover traditional medicines, herbal remedies, and jamu [traditional concoctions]. But they cannot claim it as a drug because it will be dangerous if certain parties or public figures introduce it as a drug," said Doni in Bandung on Thursday, August 6, 2020.

Doni, who is also the head of the national Covid-19 mitigation task force, responded to Hadi Pranoto's claim that he had found the cure against the novel coronavirus infection during an interview with singer and YouTuber Erdian Aji Prihartanto, or known as Anji, that went viral recently.

"There is no cure for Covid-19 to date. And the vaccine was being processed. So once again, do not be swayed. Covid-19 cure is not yet available," Doni underlined.

Herbal medicine, Doni added, had been used since ages ago. "Nothing is wrong with [using traditional ingredients]. But claiming it as a drug cannot be justified," Doni said.

Drugs could only be used or distributed to the public after going through a series of clinical trials and obtaining distribution permits from the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) and the Health Ministry.

"Do not get provoked, do not be swayed. If a drug is patented, the official announcement will not be made by a person but the Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto," Doni concluded.

AHMAD FIKRI