Jakarta, Sept. 5 -- The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) called on domestic and foreign pharmaceutical firms to collaborate in developing a clinical trial ecosystem to strengthen Indonesia's self-reliance in medicines and medical devices.

"Clinical trials aren't cheap, they're expensive. That is why we are facilitating pharmaceutical companies, both local and international, to join and expand their operations in Indonesia," BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar said in Jakarta on Saturday.

Speaking at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Indonesian Association for the Study of Medicinals (IASMED), Ikrar noted Indonesia possesses the resources to support clinical trials, ranging from facilities to a diverse range of research cases.

He highlighted clin...