Airlangga University is always responsive and proactive on issues regarding the distribution of drugs and food in the community and policy innovation in facing the challenges of drug and food control. This is the background for holding a national seminar which will be held on Thursday (13/4/2023) in a hybrid manner, both offline on the 5th floor of the ASEEC Building and online via zoom media and live YouTube. This event was packaged nicely by the organizing team from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga (FF UNAIR).
The seminar which aims to commemorate International Health Day was opened by Prof. Dr.Mohammad Nasih., S.E.M.T.,A (Unair Chancellor). With the theme "Policy Innovation in Facing the Challenges of Drug and Food Control", the presentation began with how pharmaceutical products are distributed in Indonesia.
BPOM Study in Responding to Potential Problems
According to BPOM data, the distribution of pharmaceutical products as of April 11 2023 in Indonesia consisted of 19,765 drugs, 26,511 traditional medicines, 8,272 food supplements, 282,657 food and beverages, and 410,677 cosmetics.
"From the spread of these pharmaceutical products, there will be many potential problems that may occur in Indonesia, given the wide coverage area and geographical conditions of the Indonesian archipelago," said apt. dr. Togi Junice Hutadjulu., MHA as Deputy BPOM.
In this case, he continued, BPOM carried out a drug control approach system consisting of 3 layers, namely government, community and business actors. It is this educated society that is expected to be able to be selective in taking drugs.
Weak Drug and Food Control
Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Bagong Suryanto M.Sc as the Dean of FISIP Unair also emphasized that there are weaknesses in drug and food control so that the use of drugs that are not appropriate can be dangerous. According to him, drugs are not only given, but patients must also actively ask about their reactions and side effects on the body so that this must be regulated in legislation.
"Every pharmacist must meet the quality, safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical preparations so that the distribution of the drug itself can safely reach the right person," said apt. Noffendri Roestam, SSi as Chairman of the Indonesian Pharmacist Association.
Agreeing with this, Prof. Dr.Budi Santoso, dr., Sp.OG., Subs.F.E.R, Dean of FK Unair, said that an unwanted event (KTD) had occurred due to a lack of supervision and enforcement of the applicable Constitution.
Community Urgency as Security Controller
At the end of the seminar, Prof.apt.Junaidi Khotib, M.Kes, PhD as the Dean of FF Unair highlighted several facts that happened to society. "One of them is the risk of health problems for children who eat food packed with liquid nitrogen (Cikibul) because there is no community supervision and protection," he said.
Apart from that, Prof. Junaidi also provided innovation and some problem solving from the problems described above. Starting from a chemical compound being developed, various kinds of testing, so that drugs can be tested on humans.
"And of course there is strengthening of capacity and law because the community needs control and safety of the quality of pharmaceutical products (drugs, food and cosmetics). Furthermore, there is a need for a drug and food control bill, which can protect public health and safety," Junaidi said.
"Educated people certainly have good sense and knowledge so they can sort out good quality medicines and food, and can set an example for other communities," concluded apt.Dra.Togi Junice Hutadjulu., MHA Deputy for Drug, Narcotics, Psychotropics Supervision , and Addictive Substances (BPOM).
Author : Widya (2022)
Editor : Titin (2021)
Documentation: Audy (2022)
