PT Bio Farma stated that it is ready to supply medicines needed by pharmacies established by the Red and White Village Cooperative.
In a hearing with Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta, Thursday, Bio Farma President Director Shadiq Akasya said this step is expected to make it easier for rural communities to gain access to medicines and other health products.
"However, we are still waiting for coordination from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Cooperatives for our business process," said Shadiq.
He added that the company had made a presentation to the two ministries regarding a list of products that could be supplied to village pharmacies.
The government is currently intensifying the formation of the Red and White Village Cooperative as an effort to strengthen the village economy and help alleviate poverty in rural areas through the absorption of agricultural, fishery and livestock products in the village.
The launch of this cooperative is planned to take place on July 12 to coincide with National Cooperatives Day.
The Merah Putih Village Cooperative is also expected to be able to open and manage grocery outlets, cheap medicine outlets, village pharmacies, cooperative office outlets, cooperative savings and loan business unit outlets, village clinic outlets, storage facilities or cold storage, and logistics distribution.