The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced it will provide a loan equal to IDR 450 billion ($33 million) to B. Braun Melsungen's operations in Indonesia to finance construction of a local manufacturing facility for large-volume parenterals (LVPs), which are aqueous solutions in sterile containers for infusion therapy used commonly throughout a hospital stay.

B. Braun, a German manufacturer of medical devices and pharmaceutical products and services, will transfer its European-standard pharmaceutical manufacturing skills to the new Indonesian facility. LVPs are now largely imported into Indonesia. Because they are intended for intravenous infusion, they require sterilization by heat.

The Indonesian government introduced universal health coverage, the Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional, in 2014 with plans to roll it out to the entire population in phases by 2019. Demand for hospital care is expected to rise sharply. Indonesia's health expenditure per capita is lower than other middle-income countries and less than half the 7% level of developed countries.

IFC is focused on the private sector in emerging markets and works with 2,000 businesses worldwide to create opportunity where it is needed. In 2015, the firm's long-term investments in developing countries rose to nearly $18 billion.

Source: IFC