Dr. Chairun Wiedyaningsih, a lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), was officially appointed a professor of pharmacy policy on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.
During the inauguration ceremony, Professor Wiedyaningsih delivered her professorial speech titled “The Strategic Role of Pharmacists in Strengthening Policies for the Safety of Drug Distribution and Use in Society.”
In the speech, she explained how unregulated drug distribution could lead to serious public health issues.
Oversight must be applied to the types of drugs and the equitable distribution of these drugs.
“The shortage of drugs in some areas, or the excessive availability of certain drugs that have passed their expiration date, the risk of drug abuse, and the circulation of illegal drugs,” Professor Wiedyaningsih stated in UGM Senate Hall.
She cited a national survey by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) of Indonesia, which reported that cases of drug abuse are increasing each year.
In 2023, the prevalence of narcotics abuse reached 1.73%, equivalent to 3.3 million people aged 15-64 in Indonesia.
These cases occur not only with narcotic and psychotropic substances but also with certain medications, such as tramadol, trihexyphenidyl, chlorpromazine, amitriptyline, haloperidol, and dextromethorphan.
If this condition is not addressed, there are concerns that the circulation of illegal drugs will increase.
“In the Special Region of Yogyakarta, the consumption of certain drugs among the public, particularly the younger generation, remains high. As of August 2021, 88% of the cases involved these drugs,” Professor Wiedyaningsih explained.
Several reports also show excessive use of drugs in low- and middle-income countries.
While Indonesia is still categorized as low, with fewer than 10,000 cases, this is due to the need for improvements in pharmacovigilance reporting systems.
According to her, the government needs to review and address the drug distribution channels in society, accessibility, and the buying and selling processes.
The drug distribution chain in Indonesia is inseparable from the distributors’ involvement. The National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) sets standards for Good Distribution Practices (GDP) to ensure the quality and safety of distributed drugs.
“One of the challenges is the distribution process involving many parties, from suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, to consumers,” she said.
As counterfeit and expired drugs are discovered, along with the rise of online transactions, the circulation of drugs is increasingly beyond supervision.
According to Professor Wiedyaningsih, pharmacists play an important role in ensuring the safety of drugs consumed by the public.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna Nurseisa Azrien
Photographer: Firsto