Event Reports

EuroCham Pharmaceutical and Medical Technology Working Group Task Force for medical devices (jointly with American Chamber, US-ASEAN Business Council, APACMed, and the Indonesia Canada Chamber) had the privelage to meet with the Deputy of Tourism and Creative Economy from the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Odo Manuhutu, on 27 July 2021. The meeting served as a joint advocacy effort carried out by the group in relation to the issue of the delisting of 79 imported medical devices products on the e-catalog that abruptly happened few weeks before due to the local content issue and the government’s call to use Indonesian-made products.

The meeting aims to share the importance of sustainable access of Indonesian patients toward innovative products, particularly in this time of pandemic; as well as the facts that the nature of medical devices requires global supply chain in the production process, and that many other factors affecting investment decisions should be considered. It is expected that there will be a transition provided for the delisting and more clarity on the products selection.

After the interactive discussion, it was suggested by the Coordinating Ministry to further follow up by establishing a task force to develop a plan to attract foreign investment in this sector. The Coordinating Ministry implied that the delisting will be subject to further implementation, and they also indicated that they will provide the necessary assistance for any investment hurdles, including pertaining to post-investment business contracts.

On 23 July, the Pharmacy and Medical Technology Task Force was invited to a meeting organized by the Association of Medical Equipment and Laboratory Companies (GAKESLAB Indonesia). This meeting aims to provide updates on local medical device products and content initiatives related to 79 groups of medical device products that will be removed from the e-catalogue. For that purpose, GAKESLAB reuqested all the meeting’s participants, including the foreign chambers, to take the initiative in terms of advocacy by providing company investment plans to prepare for further discussions with the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment in the near future.