Health Ministry Urges Public Against Oseltamivir Panic Buying

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Health Ministry has urged the public against panic-buying Oseltamivir for influenza treatment. The ministry says most influenza cases recover without antiviral medicines or complex treatment.

The ministry's Director General for Pharmaceutical and Health Equipment Lucia Rizka Andalucia affirmed the medicine is reserved for severe cases and high-risk groups requiring medical assessment. “Oseltamivir is not intended for widespread use or taken preventively without medical assessment,” Lucia said in a written statement on Monday, 28 September 2026.

Influenza cases have risen since September, following seasonal patterns across several ASEAN countries. Indonesia’s currently dominant strain is influenza A (H1N1)pdm09, according to ministry surveillance.

Through Week 38, surveillance recorded 1,527 positive influenza specimens from 8,757 examinations. The resulting positivity rate reached about 17 percent, lower than the 24 percent recorded in 2025.

Meanwhile, only 22 influenza A (H3N2) subclade K cases occurred during 2026. The ministry said those cases fell sharply from 166 cases recorded during 2025.

Surveillance covers hospitals, health centers, laboratories, and quarantine facilities across Indonesia. The ministry has distributed Oseltamivir to 196 hospitals while securing additional supplies.

Procurement combines expanded domestic production with special import channels addressing local supply delays. Doctors say antivirals are indicated for severe cases requiring oxygen support.

These antivirals also target vulnerable groups including young children, older adults, pregnant women, and immunocompromised patients. A meta-analysis involving about 2,500 outpatient children found limited treatment benefits.

Oseltamivir shortened illness by an average of 18 hours compared with placebo. The benefit was significant only when treatment began within the first 24 hours.

Excessive antiviral use can also increase the risk of viral drug resistance. The ministry recommends hygiene, masking when appropriate, healthy habits, and annual influenza vaccination.