Getting to Know Boenjamin Setiawan, Founder of Kalbe Farma Who Passed Away at the Age of 89, a Son of a Krupuk Seller Who Became the Richest Person in Indonesia

Dream - Founder of Kalbe Farma, Boenjamin Setiawan, passed away on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at the age of 89. He will be buried at San Diego Hill, Karawang on Saturday, April 8, 2023. 

Boenjamin Setiawan is one of the richest people in Indonesia in 2022 according to Forbes. He has a fortune of US$4.8 billion and ranks eighth.

Boenjamin became the President Commissioner of PT Kalbe Farma Tbk from 1991 to 2008. In 2008, he was succeeded by his own nephew, Bernadette Ruth Irawati Setiady.

Despite being recognized as one of the richest people in Indonesia, Boenjamin was born into a family of krupuk sellers. He was born on September 23, 1933, and began his elementary education in Tegal. He completed his junior high school and high school education in Jakarta.

According to various sources, Benjamin is known as 'Dr. Boen', he successfully graduated as a doctor from the University of Indonesia in 1958. From 1955 to 1986, he also served as a lecturer in the Pharmacology Department of FKU I. 

Not only that, 'Dr. Boen' obtained a Ph.D. degree from the University of California San Francisco in 1961. He even served as a young lecturer at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center in the Pharmacology Department of FKUI.

He founded Kalbe Farma in 1966, which initially started in a garage. Initially, Kalbe worked on ethical drugs (prescription drugs), and then expanded to produce over-the-counter drugs (OTC).

Among the products developed are Promag, Wood's cough medicine, Neuralgin, Mixagrip, Komix, Extra Joss, and Prenagen.

Kalbe Farma then grew rapidly to become a leading pharmaceutical company in Indonesia. Kalbe Farma's distribution reaches more than one million outlets throughout the Indonesian archipelago with more than 17,000 employees

Kalbe developed into the Kalbe Group, which consists of several lines, including pharmaceuticals, health foods, packaging businesses, distribution, warehousing, modern research facilities, education (Kalbis Institute), and hospitals.

Internationally, Kalbe Farma is present in ASEAN countries, Nigeria, and South Africa, and has become a national health product company that can compete in the export market.

Kalbe has built research and development capabilities in the field of generic drug formulations. Through strategic alliances with international partners, Kalbe has pioneered several research and development initiatives that are involved in cutting-edge research in drug delivery systems, cancer drugs, stem cells, and biotechnology.