Elevating Indonesia as a Trusted Global Regulatory Authority through WHO Listed Authority

Date:

20 April 2026, Monday

Time:

6pm – 7pm SGT

Venue:

NUS, Tahir Foundation Building, Seminar Room 1, Level 8, 12 Science Drive 2, S(117549)

Abstract:

This public lecture presents an overview of Indonesia’s regulatory system for medical products, highlighting the transformation of the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) toward a more mature, science-based, and internationally aligned authority. It emphasizes the achievement of WHO Listed Authority (WLA) status for vaccines in December 2025 as a reflection of strengthened regulatory capacity and sustained system improvements.

The lecture also discusses its implications for regulatory trust, reliance practices, and access to quality, safe, and effective medical products, as well as priorities for regulatory collaboration in ASEAN, including cooperation with Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

Speaker:

Prof. Taruna Ikrar, MD, M.Biomed, Ph.D.
Chairperson, The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan Republik Indonesia)

Prof. dr. Taruna Ikrar, M.D., M.Biomed, Ph.D. is a distinguished Indonesian pharmacologist, cardiovascular scientist, and neuroscience expert who currently serves as the Chairperson of the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) of the Republic of Indonesia since August 2024. His educational journey began with obtaining his medical degree from Hasanuddin University in 1997, followed by a Master’s degree in Biomedical Science with specialization in Pharmacology from the University of Indonesia, completed in 2003. His academic achievements continued with earning a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Cardiology from Niigata University, Japan in 2008.

Panelist:

Michelle Cheng
Chairperson, Industry Chapter, Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore
Regional Therapeutic Area Head, Neuroscience, Eyecare and Specialty, JAPAC, Regulatory Intercontinental,AbbVie

Michelle brings over 20 years of experience within the pharmaceutical industry spanning across Regulatory Affairs, Medical, Pharmacovigilance and Quality Assurance. She was the Head of Regulatory Affairs for Singapore and Asian Emerging Markets most recently at Novartis prior to joining AbbVie and has worked at Sanofi, B+L, Abbott and Teva with broad experience covering Ophthalmology, Oncology, Cardiovascular, Immunology, Neuroscience, generics & biosimilars. Michelle has been in AbbVie since Nov 22 responsible for Immunology before transitioning her current role in NES since Feb 2024.

Education: Bachelor of Pharmacy from National University of Singapore. Masters of Medical Science in Drug Development from University of New South Wales.
Licensed Pharmacist.

Host By:

Associate Prof Piya Hanvoravongchai
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health