TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) reported its findings in 2022 of 777 cases of illegal traditional medicines in Indonesia. These unauthorized medicines contained medicinal chemicals (BKO).

The safety, benefit, and quality of these unauthorized traditional drugs cannot be confirmed. “Meanwhile, traditional medicine which contained chemicals are a risk to the liver and kidney health,” BPOM wrote on their official Instagram account on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.

BPOM also reported 8 illegal traditional medicines along with their distributions. First, Tawon Kelanceng which is distributed in Sumatra, Java, Borneo, dan Sulawesi; second, Montalin which can be found in almost all of Indonesia; third, Wantong which is distributed in Sumatra, Java, and Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara, and West Nusa Tenggara. Fourth, Xian Ling in Java, Kalimantan, and East Nusa Tenggara; fifth, Gelatik Sari Maggis in Sumatra, Java, and East Nusa Tenggara; sixth, Piil Sakit Gigi Pak Tani in Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara, and Papua; Seventh, Kuat Lelaki Cap Beruang in Sumatra, Java, and Kalimantan; and eighth, Minyak Lintah Papua in Sumatra, Bali, and Kalimantan.

“All of which are unauthorized and contained medicinal chemicals”, said BPOM.

BPOM also urges people to be smart consumers and not to consume illegal traditional medicine, and to “Report if find any illegal traditional medicines around you,” it added.

MOH. KHORY ALFARIZI / NAJLA (Translator)

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