Dewi dan Putri: Ketimpangan di Indonesia Memisahkan Dua Anak Perempuan
Dewi and Putri: How Inequality Separates Two Girls from Indonesia
Health Services In Indonesia
| health_services_in_indonesia.pdf |
Badan Saya Tidak Enak
| badan-saya-tidak-enak.pdf |
Medical Consultation Template
| medical_consultation_template.pdf |
Prescribe this ...
If you require prescription medication in Indonesia and are unable to find a Dokter Umum (General Practitioner), you should still be able to obtain a wide range of prescribed medicines over-the-counter at an Apotik as long as you can sound convincing in showing knowledge of your medication requirements. In 30 years of dealing with Indonesian pharmacies I have never experiences difficulties in obtaining prescription medication, in my case, exclusively antibiotics to fight off throat and chest infections. It has been as easy as "Minta limabelas (15) kapsul antibiotik Amoxicillin 500 miligram." I can't guarantee that this will work for a wider range of dispensed medications but if you have a current prescription from Australia along with your passport, this may also be sufficient to give you access to that medication in Indonesia. I am in no way advocating self-prescribing of medication ... I am simply pointing out the reality of the situation on the ground in Indonesia!
A Word of Warning ...
Phenylpropanolamine (Fenilpropanolam)
Those of you who, like myself, have enjoyed the benefits of swift-acting over-the-counter Indonesian cold and flu medications need to be warned that these medicines contain the active ingredient Phenylpropanolamine which has been banned in most western countries since the year 2000 when the US Food and Drug Administration issued a Public Health Advisory notifying that it was taking steps to remove Phenylpropanolamine from all drug products due to its use and the associated link to haemorrhagic stroke. More information can found on the FDA's Phenylpropanolamine Information Page .
In Indonesia there has been no ban placed on over-the-counter medications containing Phenylpropanolamine. All that has been done is to regulate the dosage per tablet and the recommended daily dosage. Most products contain 10 mg to 25 mg with a recommended maximum daily dosage of 75 mg (adults) and 37.5 mg for children aged 6-12. It is not recommended for children under the age of 6. In Australia and New Zealand there are no over-the-counter cold and flu medications containg Phenylpropanolamine. ***(See update below)
Look at the scanned images of the following popular Indonesian cold and flu preparations available over the counter and consider your options carefully before buying and consuming them. Do not be taken in by the ridiculously low price! All Indonesian medication is cheaper than it's equivalent in Australia!
Look at the scanned images of the following popular Indonesian cold and flu preparations available over the counter and consider your options carefully before buying and consuming them. Do not be taken in by the ridiculously low price! All Indonesian medication is cheaper than it's equivalent in Australia!
Procold (Packaging)
Procold (Consumer Information)
Decolgen (Packaging)
Decolgen (Consumer Information)
INZA (Packaging)
INZA (Consumer Information)
Paramex (Packaging)
Paramex (Consumer Information)
*** Medical Warning Update ...
It would appear that either the Indonesian Department of Health or the pharmaceutical companies themselves have finally heeded the FDA's advisory and and stopped using Phenylpropanolamine in the majority of over-the-counter cold and flu medications. From researching these medications on the internet, it would appear that Phenylpropanolamine has now been replaced as the active ingredient in
cold and flu medications with a 30 mg dose of Pseudoephedrine. We know that this substance has been in the spotlight here in Australia as it has been bought and used in the illicit manufacture of Methylamphetamine. It is of some concern that this highly regulated substance is now freely available over-the-counter in every pharmacy, supermarket or corner shop in Indonesia to be illegally used by those with criminal intent. Suddenly the use of Phenylpropanolamine as an alternative does not seem all that sinister.
cold and flu medications with a 30 mg dose of Pseudoephedrine. We know that this substance has been in the spotlight here in Australia as it has been bought and used in the illicit manufacture of Methylamphetamine. It is of some concern that this highly regulated substance is now freely available over-the-counter in every pharmacy, supermarket or corner shop in Indonesia to be illegally used by those with criminal intent. Suddenly the use of Phenylpropanolamine as an alternative does not seem all that sinister.
Take one tablet three times a day ...
Despite the dubious composition of most of Indonesia's cold and flu medications, their ultra-cheap price and some very slick 16-second advertisements have endeared these concoctions to the Indonesian consumer. Below you can witness a selection of these advertisements sourced from YouTube. Note that humor, as well as a lack of any health-related warnings, plays an important role in such advertisements.
Procold (1)
Procold (2)
Procold (3)
Procold (4)
INZA
Decolgen
Paramex Flu & Batuk (1)
Paramex Flu & Batuk (2)
Panadol Cold & Flu
Panadol Pilek & Flu
