YOGYAKARTA- UGM is to host Asia Pacific Pharmaceutical Symposium (APPS) in 2011 from 2 to 8 July. APPS 2011 with the theme The Role of Herbal Medicine in Advance Pharmacy is followed by about 200 participants. Apart from several universities in Indonesia, participants also come from various countries, among others, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Australia.
Committee Chairman of APPS 2011, Astrid Ayu Maruti, said that APPS event consists of symposium, workshops, and visit to several tourist destinations in Yogyakarta, such as the Palace and Prambanan. "The participants are about 200 people. They come from several countries, namely Australia, Malaysia, Japan and Korea," Astrid said on the sidelines of the symposium at the Saphir Hotel, Monday (4/7).
At the APPS’ symposium today, Prof. Masashi Kawaichi from Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan, Prof. Dr. Edy Meiyanto, M.Sc. (Faculty of Pharmacy), and Prof. dr. Iwan Dwiprahasto, M.Med.Sc., Ph.D. (Faculty of Medicine) gave lectures. Prof. Masashi Kawaichi on the occasion much described about Ataxia disease that attacks the body’s motoric system. The cause of disease is caused by, among others, mutation of genes that causes movement disorders, such as the inability to walk. "The number of patients is currently about 60 people around the world, such as in the Caribbean. It is still important to look for the cure," Kawaichi said.
Previously, many people considered that ataxia is caused by virus. Currently, the patients can only take therapy based on the symptoms they are experiencing. However, it is not impossible if complete panacea for this disease will be found in the future because research which is continuously conducted by the experts.
Meanwhile, Edy Meiyanto hoped that the herbal-based drug development is done rationally. Edy believed with the support of government and universities, the development of herbal medicines in a rational way will be more advanced. The community now recognizes that many promoted herbal medicinal products have specific properties to cure diseases. But, the scientific evidence related to side effects of drug use and active ingredient drug compounds is sometimes ignored in the herbal medicinal product packaging. "The use of herbal medicine in the medical world now starts to attract attention. However, the most important thing that consumers should know is the importance of rational use of drugs with appropriate dose to cure the disease," Edy said.
Edy proposed that ideally drug development should have clear target basis for both natural and synthetic ingredients in the future. Therefore, it takes the government’s political will to publish the policy and encouragement of development in herbal medicine research in order to compete in international market.
On the other hand, Professor of Faculty of Medicine UGM, Prof. Iwan Dwiprahasto, assessed the need for health insurance in medicine management. Through the role of health insurance, there will be a list of medications that are good quality, widely available, and safe. "With the role of health insurance, there would be no wide gap in the price on drugs with the same type,” Iwan said.
In research on herbal medicine, up to now the integration of parties is not there. Many researches were done again by other researchers from scratch because these had been done partially. Publication of results of scientific research by attaching the scientific evidence is important to be disseminated for continuity on active compound to cure diseases. Iwan also supported herbal medicine research to be done by private parties that want to develop the herbal industry massively.