House Criticizes Baxter MoU
Friday, 09 February, 2007 | 12:48 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The House of Representatives (DPR) criticized the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Health Department and a United States vaccine maker company, Baxter Healthcare SA. Parliament has never been involved in the drawing up of the MoU. “The Health Department also never discussed Baxter,” said Commission Deputy Chairman, Max Sopacua, yesterday (8/2).

Max is concerned that the agreement with Baxter has a dangerous potential for Indonesia. The reason is, the specimens which were sent to Baxter were confidential, related to deoxyribo nucleic acid (DNA). It is probable that Baxter abused the material. “We’re disappointed that confidential matters are given to foreign parties,” said Max.

The MoU between the Health Department and Baxter was signed on Wednesday (7/2). According to Head of the Research and Development Agency at the Health Department, Triono Soendoro, the MoU is an agreement to cooperate in research for making bird flu vaccine. The value or price for vaccine producing was not stated in the MoU. “Does a MoU require the House’s permission?” he said.

In terms of making bird flu vaccine, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari conveyed her annoyance with countries that produce bird flu vaccine based on Indonesia’s strains. This is despite the fact that Indonesia has never issued a license to the World Health Organization (WHO) for producing the vaccine.

Max was upset with the bird flu genetic sample being stolen. He asked this matter to be clarified as soon as possible.

The House’s Health Commission Head, Ribka Tjiptaning, urged the government to take real actions regarding the bird flu genetic sample theft. The Health Minister must also be responsible when a country produces bird flu vaccine based on Indonesia’s strains. “It’s a form of the Health Deparment’s negligence, unable to protect the patient’s rights. How can strains be stolen that easily?” she said.

PRAMONO | IMRON ROSYID