The Ineffectiveness of Animal Testing in Indonesia: The Immediate Need for Change

Animals are subjected to painful procedures, kept in unnatural and stressful environments, and ultimately euthanized. This raises serious ethical questions, particularly in a country like Indonesia, which has rich traditions of respect for nature and animals.

Alternative Methods

Fortunately, there are efficient alternatives to animal testing that Indonesia can adopt. Such as in vitro testing, which involves studying cell cultures in a laboratory setting, has shown great promise. These methods can provide more accurate human biological responses than animal models. Additionally, advances in computer modeling and simulations, known as in silico testing, can predict how drugs will interact with human biology without the need for animal subjects.

Human-based microdosing, where volunteers are given extremely low, non-therapeutic doses of a drug, allows researchers to study the drug's effects on human subjects safely. These methods not only align better with human biology but also offer faster and more cost-effective research outcomes.

Conclusion

The continued use of animal testing in Indonesia is an outdated practice that is scientifically flawed, economically inefficient, and ethically problematic. By using alternative methods, Indonesia has the opportunity to advance its scientific research in a more humane and effective manner. 

In doing so, Indonesia can improve the reliability of its scientific research, reduce unnecessary costs, and align with global trends towards more ethical treatment of animals. The time for change is now, and Indonesia must lead the way in pioneering a more effective and humane approach to scientific research.

References

Animal testing and experiments FAQ. (n.d.). The Humane Society of the United States. https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/animals-used-experiments-faq#:~:text=Animal%20experiments%20don't%20accurately,get%20that%20animals%20do%20not

Sulaksono, M. E., et al. "Keadaan dan Masalah Hewan Percobaan di Indonesia." Indonesian Bulletin of Health Research, vol. 14, no. 3, 1986.