Regulations of the distribution of pharmaceutical services (pharmacies) locations in Indonesia: A review

Abstract

Background: Regulations for managing the distribution of pharmacies have been established in several countries, including Indonesia. The guidelines for establishing pharmacies have been published at some levels of government. However, the location of pharmacies in Indonesia is still uneven. Objective: to observe the regulations for determining the location of pharmacies in Indonesia Method: This paper documents several rules issued by the government, food and drug regulatory agencies, and pharmacists’ professional organisations that are related to the distribution of pharmacies in Indonesia. Result: There were no specific regulations governing the location of pharmacy distribution in Indonesia. Elaboration of laws about location distribution only regulates environmental waste management. Conclusion: The three factors that make it possible to improve the accessibility of pharmacies in Indonesia are 1) regulation of pharmacy ownership; 2) space between pharmacies; and 3) incentives for pharmacies in remote areas