The Faculty of Pharmacy at Universitas Airlangga (FF UNAIR) strengthened student global perspectives through an international guest lecture. On Monday, June 15, 2026, FF UNAIR hosted Dr. Mohd Shahezwan Abd Wahab, an academic and researcher from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, as a speaker in an activity conducted online via Zoom Meeting.
This guest lecture was attended by students and academic community members of FF UNAIR from various educational levels. During this occasion, Dr. Shahezwan presented material titled "The Expanding Roles of Pharmacies in Public Health, Social Pharmacy, and Healthy Ageing in Malaysia." This topic provided an overview of the expanding roles of pharmacies and the pharmaceutical profession in supporting public health in Malaysia.
In his presentation, Dr. Shahezwan explained that pharmacies today serve not only as medication dispensary centers but also as health service centers that contribute to health promotion, disease prevention, and improved quality of life for communities. The role of pharmacists has become increasingly strategic in providing health education, supporting chronic disease management, and participating in various public health programs.
Additionally, he also discussed the concept of social pharmacy, which emphasizes the importance of understanding social, cultural, and behavioral aspects of communities in pharmaceutical practice. According to him, this approach is key to creating pharmaceutical services that are more effective, inclusive, and patient-needs oriented.
The topic of healthy ageing also received significant attention in this guest lecture. Dr. Shahezwan presented various challenges faced by countries with increasingly aging populations, including Malaysia. In this context, pharmacists have an important role in ensuring rational drug use, improving treatment adherence, and supporting the elderly to remain healthy and independent in their golden years.
The discussion session was interactive, with various questions from participants regarding community-based pharmaceutical service implementation, pharmaceutical practice development in the Southeast Asian region, and research collaboration opportunities between Indonesia and Malaysia. Through this activity, participants gained new insights into current trends and innovations in the pharmaceutical field at the international level.
This international guest lecture represents part of FF UNAIR's commitment to providing quality learning experiences and expanding global academic networks. The presence of Dr. Mohd Shahezwan Abd Wahab is expected to enrich student perspectives and encourage stronger collaboration between FF UNAIR and Universiti Teknologi MARA in the future.
This activity is also in line with achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through strengthening knowledge regarding public health and healthy ageing, as well as SDGs 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through international academic collaboration between the Faculty of Pharmacy at Universitas Airlangga and Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia.
