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Reagen Mokodompit

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Reagen Mokodompit is an Associate Partner in Baker McKenzie, Jakarta office. Jakarta

On 11 July 2023, Indonesia’s house of representative (known as Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Indonesia/DPR RI) approved the 2023 draft health law. A month later, the President enacted Law No. 17 of 2023 on Health (“Health Omnibus Law”) through the state secretariat. The Health Omnibus Law contains provisions on matters such as pharmaceutical preparations, medical devices, healthcare services, healthcare technology (including telehealth and telemedicine), R&D and other compulsory measures.

The Minister of Health issued MOH Regulation No. 24 of 2022 on Medical Records, which revokes MOH Regulation No. 269/MENKES/PER/III/2008, on the same topic on 31 August this year. The promulgation of MOH Regulation 24 underlines the digital transformation in Indonesia’s healthcare sector, as the regulation sets out detailed provisions on implementing the new electronic medical records provisions for healthcare facilities. The regulation aims to serve as a new legal framework for digital-based and integrated medical records.

On 22 October 2020, the Minister of Health (MOH) issued MOH Regulation No. 28 of 2020 on the Procurement of Vaccines for Corona Virus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) (“MOH Regulation 28”). MOH Regulation 28 is an implementing regulation of the Presidential Regulation No. 99 on the Procurement of COVID-19 Vaccine and Vaccination of COVID-19 (“PR 99”). We have addressed some of the key takeaways under PR 99 in our previous client alert. You can find the link to the client alert here.

MOH Regulation 28 regulates on four main themes of COVID-19 vaccine procurement:  (i) types and amount of vaccine for procurement, (ii) procedure for procurement of vaccines, (iii) procedure for payment for vaccines and (iv) guidance and supervision on the procurement of vaccines.

As stipulated under PR 99, MOH has appointed PT Bio Farma (Persero) (“Bio Farma”) as the state-owned enterprise that will lead the procurement and distribution of COVID-19 vaccine in Indonesia. MOH Regulation 28 applies for all COVID-19 vaccines yet to come, not limited to the one that is being developed under the partnership between Government of Indonesia (GOI) (i.e., through Bio Farma) and Sinovac.

One of the preliminary methods to check if a person has been infected with COVID-19 is a rapid antibody test. In addition, under COVID-19 Task Force Circular Letter No. 7 of 2020 currently, a rapid antibody or PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test result is a requirement for anyone taking public transportation for domestic (interprovincial or intercity) and international travel in Indonesia. Although the accuracy of rapid antibody tests is questionable, the rapid antibody test is the easiest and quickest way to identify COVID-19 exposure.

Because it is easy to use, there has been high demand for rapid antibody tests. To ensure a reasonable price, on 6 July, the Directorate General of Healthcare Services (“DGHS”) (i.e., a division under the Ministry of Health (“MOH”) issued Circular Letter No. HK.02.02/I/2875/2020 on the maximum tariff of Rapid Antibody Tests (“DGHS Circular Letter 02”).

DGHS Circular Letter 02 is an implementing rule of MOH Decision No. HK.01.07/MENKES/247/2020 on Guidelines on Prevention and Control of Corona Virus Diseases (COVID-19).