The Synergy of the BPOM, Ministry of Health, and BRIN to Create a Clinical Trial Ecosystem in Indonesia

Prodia The CRO team, represented by Erizal Sugiono (Director) and Rosalia Napitupulu (Business Development Manager), attended a forum group discussion initiated by Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan (BPOM) on October 31, 2024, held in Fairmont Hotel, Jakarta.

The topic of this discussion was “A Blueprint for Innovation Success: Optimal Quality of Clinical Trial Centers and Practitioners”. The event was held as a follow up of the Cooperation Agreement between BPOM, the Ministry of Health (MoH), and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) which was signed on July 19, 2024.

The scope of cooperation agreement includes the coordination in the clinical research approval, clinical research center mapping and guidance, clinical research registry, and improvement of clinical research practitioners competency. It is hoped that by the synergy in national policies related to research development, and utilization of science and technology, as well as clinical trial services and supervision, can be achieved.

The roles and duties of BPOM in clinical trials were described by Ria Christine Siagian, Director of Drug Registration, BPOM. The responsibilities include assessing applications for approval of clinical trial implementation (PPUK), monitoring and evaluating the conducting of clinical trials, mapping clinical trial centers, providing training in good clinical trial methods (CUKB), and disseminating PPUK data and inspection findings.

According to Indri Rooslamiati (the representative of the Directorate General of Health Services, MoH), the role of the MoH in improving the quality and safety of clinical trial implementation in Indonesia paved by the establishment of Indonesia Clinical Research Center (INA-CRC), which is a one-stop solution for the implementation of clinical research. The INA-CRC initiative includes transparency of procedures and digitalization of the Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) submission, revamping clinical study that registry through the Indonesia Clinical study Registry (INA-CRR) website, and the establishment of National Ethics Committee. The data between clinical trial approval (BPOM) will be interfaced with INA-CRC.

According to Ramatun Anggraini Kiemas (Deputy for Research and Innovation Facilitation—BRIN), BRIN is in charge of bolstering and coordinating institutions through the creation and accreditation of the Health Ethics Commission, financing the conduct of pre-clinical and clinical trials, and overseeing and carrying out clinical trials, enhancing human resource competency, and advancing clinical trial implementation.

 

Prodia the CRO, believes that this cooperation will result in a positive impact on clinical trials in Indonesia. This cooperation has the chance to increase both the number and quality of clinical studies while guaranteeing that they are carried out in a transparent, ethical, and GCP standard. Furthermore, we believe that this synergy approach will make Indonesia more appealing for clinical trials in global markets.

Prodia the CRO is a Contract Research Organization (CRO) based in Indonesia which provides GCP-based Clinical Trial supports through our integrated and wide range of services. Prodia the CRO has accumulated many experiences providing services to local as well as multinational companies with commitment to reach quality through qualified and dedicated resources. It provides customers in GCP trials with competitive costs, firm timeliness, high compliance to ICH-GCP guidelines.