Today a total of 144 new pharmacists of the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM are inaugurated. Most of them, 127 people, are female pharmacists while male pharmacists are 17. Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof. Dr. Marchaban, DESS, Apt, said the quality of UGM pharmacist graduates this far is quite accounted in the world of work. Especially considering the age of the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM that is the oldest pharmacy faculty in Indonesia.
"To have a pharmacist degree is gift of Allah. UGM pharmacists quite draw interest. Also, the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM is the oldest, 64 years old, in Indonesia," Marchaban explained at Graha Sabha Pramana on Thursday (5/8).
Marchaban added with the inauguration ofthe new pharmacists, since its establishment, the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM has graduated 5558 pharmacists, 1825 of which are men and 3733 women. "Since its establishment 64 years ago, there have been 5558 UGM pharmacists," he said.
Earlier, Chairman of Indonesian Pharmacist Association (IAI) of Yogyakarta, Nunut Rubiyanto, S.Si, Apt, explained that the profession of pharmacist is still quite necessary in the medical world. Law No PP 51/2009 stated that the pharmacist is part of health workers in Indonesia. "Opportunities are still wide open for pharmaceutical industry in healthcare," Nunut explained.
Nunut said that up to this time pharmacist services are less recognized in the health care system in Indonesia than other healthcare professionals. He cited a hospital pharmacist in the region who charged prescription services of around IDR200,000 had been considered as doing an act of offense.
"What we continue to strive now is the pharmacist’s profession and services recognition that are equivalent to other health professionals," he added.
Nunut added that besides the efforts for recognition of pharmacists services, IAI currently are also struggling to downsizing some of the rules that are too bureaucratic. It is also expected that in the future, graduates will be given a registration letter that they can directly utilize.
In the same place, the Head of the Provincial Health Office, dr. Agus Bondan Suryanto, SE, MA, gave the message that UGM new pharmacists can continue to hold the mandate of health workers which are relieving human suffering and extending their life. Three main points that they must maintain are competence, professionalism, and welfare.
"Besides these three things, health workers, especially pharmacists, are expected not to violate human values when they have entered the workforce," Bondan said.
In the inauguration ceremony, Dexa Award is also given for academic merit and the best graduates, they are Dewi Arum, S. Farm., Apt., Nurul Latifah, S. Farm., Apt and Indra Pramularsih, S. Farm., Apt.