December 24, 2025 | 04:12 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency's (BPOM) appointment as a WHO Listed Authority (WLA) places Indonesia among the few global regulators of medicines and food. This status not only signifies international recognition but also has a direct impact on the national healthcare system and the domestic pharmaceutical industry.
Head of BPOM, Taruna Ikrar, stated that the recognition from the World Health Organization (WHO) strengthens Indonesia's position in global health diplomacy and creates greater opportunities for national drug and vaccine self-reliance. "With this status, Indonesia is no longer just a global standard user but is trusted to help maintain and strengthen these standards," said Taruna in an official statement quoted on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.
According to Taruna, the WLA status increases international trust in the assessment, approval, and monitoring of BPOM. Consequently, medicines, vaccines, and medical devices approved by BPOM are more likely to be accepted in the global market.
This recognition is also seen to accelerate public access to quality medicines and vaccines. The national regulatory system is recognized as being on an equal level with global authorities. It allows for strict supervision of healthcare products without hindering innovation or distribution.
Taruna explained that the WLA designation was achieved through rigorous and comprehensive evaluation, covering institutional governance, regulatory functions, decision-making integrity, and BPOM's long-term performance consistency. He referred to these accomplishments as reflecting the maturity of institutions and the resilience of Indonesia's healthcare system.
In addition to impacting the healthcare sector, the WLA status also opens up economic opportunities. Taruna stated that this recognition can drive the competitiveness of the national pharmaceutical industry and strengthen the resilience of the domestic drug supply chain.
Nevertheless, he emphasized that the WLA status is not the endpoint. He says that this global recognition signifies a long-term responsibility to uphold integrity, transparency, and policies that promote public safety.
"Global trust must be maintained over time. BPOM will continue to work professionally and based on science to protect the public," said Taruna.
Indonesia is noted as the first middle-income country to achieve the WHO Listed Authority status as an independent regulatory body. The government considers this achievement to be a critical foundation for improving the national healthcare system and strengthening Indonesia's global presence.
Read: Indonesia Opens Unlimited Rice Aid for Sumatra Flood Victims
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