Jakarta - The incident in Kendari related to victims after consuming tablet products that included the words 'PCC', BPOM expressed concern and asked all parties to work together to resolve this problem.
Head of the Indonesian Food and Drug Administration, Penny K. Lukito stated that the PCC tablets consumed by the victim in Kendari were illegal products that were never registered with the Food and Drug Administration as a medicine. "That means the tablets should not be consumed by anyone," Penny K. Lukito emphasized, Monday (18/9).
Based on the results of the laboratory tests by the Indonesian Food and Drug Administration, there were 2 types of PCC tablets with different contents that were consumed by the victim. The first contains Paracetamol, Carisoprodol, and Caffeine. The second contains Paracetamol, Carisoprodol, Caffeine, and Tramadol.
Paracetamol either as a single preparation or in combination with Caffeine is currently still permitted for therapeutic use. While Carisoprodol is a raw material for drugs that provide muscle relaxation effects with sedative and euphoric side effects. At doses higher than therapeutic doses, Carisoprodol can cause seizures and hallucinations, as well as other effects that are harmful to health and even death.
Previously, products containing Carisoprodol were officially distributed in Indonesia, but the products were widely misused. "Therefore, in 2013, all drugs containing Carisoprodol (Carnophen, Somadril, Rheumastop, New Skelan, Carsipain, Carminofein, Etacarphen, Cazerol, Bimacarphen, Karnomed) that were given distribution permits by the Indonesian POM Agency had their distribution permits revoked and were no longer allowed to be distributed in Indonesia," explained Penny K. Lukito.
In response to the rampant abuse of certain drugs and the distribution of illegal drugs in Indonesia, BPOM has carried out a series of activities to intensify supervision and law enforcement, including:
- January 2014, 195 barrels of 25 kg (4.875 kg) of illegal Carisoprodol raw materials were found at Sunda Kelapa Port in North Jakarta.
- September 2016 found 42 million illegal tablets namely Carnophen, Trihexyphenidyl (THP), Tramadol, and Dextometorphan in Balaraja - Banten. These illegal tablets have been destroyed. A total of 60 trucks of evidence that were destroyed have an economic value of around 30 billion rupiah.
- Integrated Operation to Eradicate Certain Drugs (OOT) that are often abused in the areas of Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, Banjarmasin, Mataram, Denpasar, Makassar, Serang, and Palangkaraya on 17-21 July 2017. From the results of the integrated operation, it was found that there was still circulation of OOT in drug stores, cosmetic stores, and grocery stores totaling 13 items (925.919 pieces) with a total economic value reaching 3,1 billion rupiah.
- National Joint Operation 5-6 September 2017. Found 436 packages or around 12 million illegal drugs that are often abused, namely Carnophen, Trihexyphenidyl (THP), Tramadol, and Seledryl with an economic value of 43,6 billion rupiah in Banjarmasin. This finding is the result of the National Joint Operation to Eradicate Illegal Drugs and Food carried out by BBPOM officers in Banjarmasin in collaboration with the South Kalimantan Police's "Bekantan" Special Team.
- The POM Center in Makassar also found 29.000 “PCC” tablets. The violation is a crime in the field of drugs. The POM Agency will take firm steps including recommending the revocation of the facility permit to the Ministry of Health.
- The POM Office in Mamuju found 179.000 tablets in illegal facilities consisting of Trihexyphenidyl and Tramadol.
Based on these results, more comprehensive supervision is still needed. "The problem of illegal drug distribution is a serious issue because its impact can damage the nation's next generation. All components of the nation must work together and commit to overcoming this problem. For this reason, the Indonesian Food and Drug Administration together with the Indonesian Police, BNN and other related agencies have agreed to commit to forming a National Action Team for the Eradication of Drug Abuse, which will work not only on the aspect of prosecution, but also prevention," explained the Head of the Indonesian Food and Drug Administration.
The National Action to Eradicate Drug Abuse will be launched on October 4, 2017 together with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs, POLRI, BNN, and the Attorney General's Office. In addition, the Development of 2D Barcodes for Track and Trace of legal and illegal drugs and monitoring of pharmaceutical industry production, PBF, and service facilities (Pharmacies, Hospitals, Health Centers, Clinics) is also carried out. In relation to this, BPOM is supported by the Drug and Food Regulator in Turkey, namely the Turkey Agency for Medicine and Pharmaceutical Devices.
BPOM RI together with the Indonesian Police and BNN will continue to investigate this case to the end in order to uncover the perpetrators of the illegal drug distribution and their network. BPOM RI plays an active role in conducting investigations, providing expert assistance, and laboratory tests in handling the case. Not only in Kendari, the BPOM Centers (BB/BPOM) throughout Indonesia are also moving simultaneously to monitor the possibility of the distribution of PCC tablets or other illegal drugs in their respective regions.
The role of the POM Agency in implementing drug and food supervision strategies has been strengthened by the Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 3 of 2017 concerning Increasing the Effectiveness of Drug and Food Supervision, where in the Inpres, the POM Agency in increasing the effectiveness of drug and food supervision is supported by 9 (nine) Ministries and Regional Governments in this case the Governor, Regent, and Mayor.
Strengthening the POM Agency is also supported by Presidential Decree No. 80 of 2017 concerning the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency, where the Indonesian POM Agency will have a new structure, namely the Deputy for Enforcement which will sharpen the enforcement aspect and provide a deterrent effect for perpetrators of crimes against humanity in the field of drugs and food.
In order for drug abuse cases not to recur, there must be a deterrent effect related to criminal sanctions against perpetrators of crimes. That is why the Indonesian POM Agency needs a legal umbrella in the form of the Drug Control Law.
BPOM continues to monitor and follow up on this news. The Head of BPOM RI appealed to the public to always be careful in obtaining and consuming drugs. "Make sure to buy drugs only at official facilities such as pharmacies, health centers, and hospitals. Don't be easily tempted by cheap drugs offered by someone or a certain party. Make sure the drug has a distribution permit from BPOM," he concluded.
For more information contact:
Contact Center HALO BPOM at telephone number 1-500-533, SMS 0-8121-9999-533, email halobpom@pom.go.id, or Consumer Complaints Service Unit (ULPK) of BPOM Centers throughout Indonesia.
Sumber:
http://www.pom.go.id/new/view/more/pers/381/BADAN-POM-PERANG–TERHADAP-PENYALAHGUNAAN-OBAT-DAN-OBAT-ILEGAL.html
