Military venturing into medicine production sparks concern about resemblance to authoritarian history of Indonesia
Indonesia's Defense Ministry and the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) have signed an agreement that will see the Indonesian military (TNI) mass-producing affordable medicines to improve public access, particularly in rural areas. The initiative, led by Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, will mobilise pharmaceutical labs from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, which had previously only produced medicines for military personnel, to produce drugs for civilian distribution.
The medicines will meet national safety and quality standards overseen by BPOM and will be distributed through village cooperatives. According to the plans, the medicines will be sold at half the retail price, or potentially even provided free of charge.
Taruna Ikrar, head of BPOM, hails the collaboration as a means to expand access to essential medicines and deter the circulation of counterfeit drugs in underserved communities. The Defense Ministry assures the production adheres to national health regulations and emphasises the TNI's disciplined capacity and credibility in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
However, the agreement has raised significant concerns and controversy. Critics and rights groups view the move as legally questionable because Indonesian military law prohibits active-duty soldiers from engaging in civilian business activities. There are fears that this military involvement in medicine production and distribution may signify a broader policy shift, potentially leading the armed forces to reclaim a stronger role in local governance—a pattern reminiscent of the authoritarian era in Indonesia's past.
This concern is heightened by the fact that President Prabowo Subianto, a former general and defense minister, currently leads the government. Scholars like Azifah Astrina, a lecturer in the politics and government department at Universitas Gadjah Mada, have expressed concern that the agreement is not an isolated policy adjustment, but perhaps the beginning of greater military involvement beyond traditional roles.
In summary, while the Defense Ministry-BPOM agreement aims to enhance medicine affordability and access through military pharmaceutical production, it also triggers debates over legal boundaries, military involvement in civilian affairs, and the implications of expanding military roles in Indonesia’s governance, especially under President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership.
[1] Kompas.com, "TNI Akan Memproduksi Obat Bagi Masyarakat, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin: 'Harga lebih murah'", 22 July 2021. [2] Detik.com, "Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin: TNI Akan Memproduksi Obat Bagi Masyarakat", 22 July 2021. [3] The Jakarta Post, "Controversial agreement allows military to produce medicines", 23 July 2021. [4] The Straits Times, "Indonesia military to produce affordable medicines for rural areas", 23 July 2021. [5] The Diplomat, "Indonesia's Military to Produce Medicines: A Step Backwards for Democracy?", 23 July 2021.
- The Defense Ministry's policy-and-legislation to have the Indonesian military produce medicines for civilian distribution in rural areas, as part of an agreement with BPOM, sparks controversy due to potential military involvement in civilian business activities, which violates Indonesian military law.
- Scholars like Azifah Astrina of Universitas Gajah Mada express concerns that the agreement is not an isolated policy adjustment, but a sign of larger military intervention in civilian affairs, reminiscent of Indonesia's past authoritarian era under President Prabowo Subianto, a former general and defense minister.
- Critics and rights groups question the legal ramifications of the Defense Ministry's health-and-wellness initiative to mass-produce affordable medicines, as it could potentially lead to a broader role for the military in local governance, affecting the general-news landscape of Indonesia.
- The science behind pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution remains solid, with the TNI's disciplined capacity and credibility ensuring the national health regulations are followed, though concerns about military intervention in politics persist.
