Children in Indonesia do not always receive medicines that are suitable for their age. Many essential treatments are unavailable in child-friendly formulations, such as oral liquids, dispersible tablets, or dosage strengths suitable for children. This affects a large share of the population, since children aged 0 to 14 years make up about 23.5% of Indonesia’s population or around 66.72 million children in 2025. When the right medicines are not easily accessible, health workers may need to modify adult medicines for paediatric use, which can increase treatment complexity and increase the risk of dosing inaccuracies.
To address these challenges, the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization Global Accelerator for Paediatric Formulation (GAP-f) initiative, held an inception workshop in Jakarta on 4 March 2026. The meeting brought together around 40 participants from government institutions, regulatory bodies, universities, hospitals, manufacturers, suppliers and development partners. The aim was to build a shared understanding of how different parts of the system affect access to medicines for children.
The workshop explored key stages of the paediatric medicines pathway in Indonesia, including regulatory approval, national selection and listing processes, procurement and supply systems, and service readiness and use in clinical practice. Through facilitated group discussions, participants identified common bottlenecks and cross-cutting challenges that affect availability and use of age-appropriate medicines for children across the system.
Key issues included the limited availability of medicines designed specifically for children and gaps in data and visibility on demand for paediatric formulations. This lack of clear demand may reduce incentives for manufacturers and suppliers to develop, register or supply paediatric products. Participants also noted that clinical evidence availability, epidemiological data, regulatory indications and registered dosage forms influence national prioritization and listing processes. In addition, alignment between policy decisions, procurement planning and service-level use remains an important factor for consistent access in health facilities.
These discussions are important for Indonesia because they help show where better coordination is needed. When systems are better aligned, children are more likely to receive timely and appropriate treatment. As Dr Lucia Rizka Andalucia, Director General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices at the Ministry of Health, noted during the workshop, “Children require medicines that are specifically designed for their needs. Strengthening access to appropriate paediatric medicines requires coordinated efforts across regulation, supply systems and health services.”
Participants also highlighted the implications for clinical practice. Professor Dyah Perwitasari from the Indonesian College of Pharmacy explained that when suitable medicines for children are not available, pharmacists and clinicians often must adjust doses or prepare medicines differently. Professor Erna Kristin from Gadjah Mada University added that clearer information about children’s treatment needs can help guide decisions from research and approval to purchasing and use.
Since the inception workshop, dialogue has continued through a series of technical engagements. On 18 May 2026, WHO headquarters and the Country Office for Indonesia convened a follow-up discussion with the Ministry of Health to review key insights and lessons from the regional paediatric medicines workshop held the previous week and the proposed approach for Indonesia’s paediatric medicines landscape analysis. These discussions helped refine the scope and methodology of the assessment, ensuring that future analyses are informed by both national priorities and regional experiences.
The national inception workshop marked an important first step in a broader effort to better understand Indonesia’s paediatric medicines ecosystem. Findings from the workshop, together with subsequent technical discussions, will inform a comprehensive landscape assessment examining barriers and opportunities across access ecosystem. The assessment will support the development of practical recommendations for policy makers in the Ministry of Health, the Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) and other stakeholders, contributing to more consistent and fair access to essential medicines for children.
This activity is supported by Temasek Foundation through the WHO Global Accelerator for Paediatric Formulations (GAP-f).
Written by Liyana Rakinaturia, National Professional Officer (Essential Drugs and Medicines), WHO Indonesia