News

Indonesia Pharmacy and Cultural Engagement Programme (IPCEP) 2019 was hosted by the Department of Pharmacy, Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) at Jogjakarta, Indonesia starting from 15th to 27th of July 2019. The main objective of this programme is to observe and participate with the pharmacy practice in Indonesia such as at community pharmacy (Apotek) and community clinic (Puskesmas), besides learning the local culture. Nine students from year 4 (RX14) of Kulliyyah of Pharmacy had participated in this programme:

1. Nur Faqihah Binti Bakhtiar
2. Siti Aishah Binti Ahmad Faiz
3. Syazwani Binti Hassan
4. Syukrina Binti Sulaiman
5. Siti Fatimah Zahra Binti Norazlan
6. Nur Elisa Binti Kamil
7. Siti Syahirah Binti Abd Manan
8. Nurul Faiqah Dalilah Binti Zulfahmi
9. Siti Nurwahidah Binti Zulkifli.

Three days were allocated for attachment at apotek and puskesmas respectively. Three apotek was involved during this attachment which are Apotek Clinic Sembada, Apotek UII and Apotek Pakem. For puskesmas, Puskesmas Ngaglik 1, Puskesmas Ngaglik 2, and Puskesmas Ngemplak 1 were involved. This attachment was held for the participants to observe and learn about the management, system and medications. Then, one full day allocated for healthcare promotion programme, which is one of their community service. Apart from engaging with pharmacy practices, students were also given the opportunity to learn about Indonesian culture by visiting some of the historical places, such as Candi Borobudur, Merapi mount and Keraton (The Sultan Palace).

Throughout the attachment, a lot of knowledge was gained regarding the practices and also Indonesian healthcare system. Dispensing separation is already been enforced in Indonesia, which pharmacists have full authority on dispensing medications through prescription or walk in customers. Community became pharmacists’ main focus in Indonesia and a lot of activities were held to enhance and correct their knowledge regarding medication and overall healthcare. Each Indonesian need to have Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial Kesihatan (BPJS) card to get complementary medications and services, in a condition that they went to the specific facility allocated for them.

Besides, there was also a community engagement slot which was an educational talk involving the local residents of Srowolan village. It was held to convey information to local residents pertaining the right use of antibiotics. 25 local houses have been surveyed regarding the knowledge and practice of medicine prior to the talk.

All in all, this programme should be continued, to maintain two way relationship between the Kulliyyah of Pharmacy IIUM and the Department of Pharmacy, UII. This programme has been very beneficial for participants, as this is a golden opportunity to understand the pharmacy practices in Indonesia, besides learning the culture of Indonesian, especially the Javanese. There were a lot of things that Malaysian pharmacists could learn from, especially in approaching locals in smaller group to educate them the right way in managing the medicines. This is aligned with the Malaysian National Medicine Policy, to educate the general public in quality use of drugs. Credits to all the people who are involved in this programme, especially the host, Department of Pharmacy, UII for the great hospitality provided along the programme.