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Lengthy AGO investigation blamed for ARV shortage
Based on IAC findings, at least 40 regencies and cities currently face ARV shortages.
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Until recently, only two companies are authorized by the Health Ministry to import ARV drugs, namely PT Kimia Farma and PT Indofarma. They import a fixed-dose combination of TLE. (AFP/Adek Berry)
A shortage of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs in dozens of cities and regencies across the country has raised public concerns, prompting a civil society group to demand that the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) speed up its investigation into alleged corruption in the government’s procurement of the drug.
Indonesia AIDS Coalition (IAC) director Aditya Wardhana criticized the AGO, saying it had not done enough to settle the case after more than a year of investigating.
“The attorney general [office] must be firmer. It should find out whether corruption was found in this case,” Aditya told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
If there was evidence of corruption, he added, the AGO should name a suspect and continue with the legal process.
“Even if the AGO found no evidence [of corruption], the office should at least issue an SP3 [investigation termination warrant] so that the Health Ministry can procure the [ARV drugs],” Aditya said.
He believes that the unfinished investigation, which started in 2016, had made the Health Ministry extra cautious about procuring ARVs, and this has led to a shortage.
