TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Health Minister Nila F. Moeloek said that the Health Ministry would reform the mechanism if there are prices of medicines that violate the regulations.
According to Nila, not all medicine prices that are expensive are caused by promotional costs.
Nila also said that raw materials to manufacture medicines are imported so the prices of medicines are influenced by the fluctuation of the US Dollar exchange rate.
"If the exchange rate increase, the prices of medicines also increase,” she said.
The prices of medicines, Nila said, are also influenced by the decision to reap benefits and marketing funds.
"If the prices of medicines are not bigger than the marketing funds, that’s not a problem because it is integrated,” she added.
She further said that if the prices of medicines are bigger than the promotional funds, it will be regulated by the Health Ministry.
Previously, Tempo investigation team found collusion between pharmaceutical companies and doctors when they give prescription to certain medicines to patients.
FRISKI RIANA | TEMPO
