Issuing Millions Of Pharmaceutical Product Certificates And Food Industry, BPOM Was Reminded By The Transparent KPK

KPK spokesman Tessa Mahardika (Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) reminded the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) to be transparent and free of corruption. This institution is prone to being a security supervisor and quality supervisor for pharmaceutical and food products in the country.

This was conveyed by KPK spokesman Tessa Mahardhika when asked about the presence of BPOM at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, Jakarta to hold an audience on Monday, February 3. KPK chairman Setyo Budiyanto to KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Rudi Setiawan attended the meeting.

"As a supervisory agency, BPOM is tasked with ensuring the safety and quality of the products consumed. However, the potential for irregularities in supervision remains a challenge that must be dealt with firmly," Tessa said in a written statement to reporters, Tuesday, February 4.

Tessa said BPOM had contributed revenue to the state up to IDR 5.590 trillion from the pharmaceutical and food industry. In addition, they have also issued millions of certifications.

Thus, BPOM, which has a strategic role, must ensure that its duties run well by closing the gap for corruption.

"BPOM has contributed IDR 176.3 trillion from the pharmaceutical industry and IDR 5.420 trillion from the food industry. Thus, the total industry under the supervision of BPOM for the national economy reached IDR 5.590 trillion," he said.

"In the context of BPOM certification, millions of certificates have also been issued for hundreds of thousands of products. For this reason, it is important for BPOM to ensure that the entire process runs transparently and free from corrupt practices," continued the spokesman with the investigator's background.

As previously reported, BPOM asked the anti-corruption commission to carry out supervision to prevent corrupt practices in its institution.

The Head of BPOM Taruna Ikrar even asked the KPK to work in his office. He said the invitation was delivered directly to the Chairman of the KPK, Setyo Budiyanto, during the meeting.

"We invited the KPK chairman and all leaders to have an office at the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency and the KPK chairman has responded positively and will follow up with the relevant deputies," Taruna told reporters at the location.

The cadet said that BPOM contributes to the state because it issues millions of certification of clinical trials to distribution. Thus, this institution wants to close the gap in corrupt practices.

"So in accordance with the main duties and regulations we have, both regarding health laws, we have great potential in the context of state financial contributions, meaning that we also have the potential to experience what we call possible gratification, possible misappropriation and others," he said.

"Therefore, we are determined that we want to be a clean institution. We don't want that to happen (alleged corruption, ed)," continued Taruna.