Indonesia’s FDA to Halodoc: Take down listings of prohibited drugs

Indonesia’s food and drug agency, Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan (BPOM), told Tech in Asia that it has sent Halodoc a recommendation to take down its listings of prohibited drugs like Rhinos and Viagra.

This follows a Tech in Asia investigation published in December 2022 that found Temasek-backed Halodoc, one of Indonesia’s most prominent healthtech companies, was enabling the sale of at least 11 restricted drugs including antipsychotics, pharmaceutical precursors, and medication for erectile dysfunction.

Image credit: Timmy Loen

BPOM said it has also submitted a recommendation to the Ministry of Communication and Information to take down Halodoc links to the restricted drugs.

See more: Temasek-backed Halodoc enabled sale of restricted drugs 

“If Halodoc continues to carry out transactions for drugs that are prohibited from being sold online, such as drugs containing pharmaceutical precursors (Rhinos) and drugs for erectile dysfunction (Viagra), then according to BPOM Regulation Number 8 of 2020, Halodoc may be given administrative sanctions,” an agency spokesperson told Tech in Asia.

BPOM could recommend sanctions such as revoking Halodoc’s electronic pharmaceutical system operators license (PSEF), which recognizes the company as an online pharmacy, and its license for pharmaceutical service facilities. The agency could also suggest recalling the prohibited drugs or banning Halodoc from drug distribution for a certain period.

Tech in Asia asked Halodoc to comment on the matter, but the healthtech company did not respond. The drugs were still available its website at the time of publication.

Previously, Halodoc told Tech in Asia that as “a digital platform, it does not directly sell medicines but facilitates its pharmacist partners to verify the prescription redemption.”

However, Indonesia’s FDA clarified last month that it holds licensed online pharmacies accountable for such sales since they have “full control over the content and products that are displayed.”

The BPOM said it restricts the sale of certain drugs because of their potential for misuse and how dangerous they are if consumed without a healthcare professional’s advice. Some medicines could also be used “by criminals to produce illegal narcotics and psychotropics which must be prevented.”

The agency added that it regularly monitors ecommerce websites, social media, and other platforms to identify sellers of drugs banned from being sold online. In 2022, BPOM found 20,013 such links, the spokesperson said.