A major achievement once again is made by the student of UGM. This time, it is Nuvi Gustriawanto (20), Faculty of Pharmacy student class of 2009, who grabbed the champion title. Nuvi managed to become world champion at the beginner level of International Patient Counseling Competition (Patient Counseling Event 2011) in Thailand, 3-13 August. In the competition, Nuvi beat his competitors who came from Tunisia and the United States.
According to Nuvi, in the competition that coincided with the series of International Pharmacy Student Federation (IPSF) which was attended by about 51 countries, he managed to win over 19 participants on the elimination stage. At this stage, Nuvi admitted his worry as the competitors were from advanced countries in the field of pharmaceutical, like the U.S. and Canada. "Quite frankly, I had worries and anxiety because the competitors were from advanced countries in the field of pharmacy and clinics, like the U.S. and Canada," said Nuvi in Stana Parahita Room, Wednesday (24/8).
Nuvi explains the competition is divided into two categories, namely beginner (for student of S-1) and advance (professions and S-2). In the elimination phase involving 19 participants, Nuvi had to provide counseling to patients about dog bite infections. Furthermore, at the big-three stage, the theme was hormone replacement therapy in women menopausal cases.
Despite anxiousness and nervousness, Nuvi felt excited in the competition. Prepared with English fluency and experience in the Drug Information Center of Gadjah Mada, Nuvi was finally declared by the jury as the first champion. "In the UGM Drug Information Center study group, I happened to learn a lot of knowledge about counseling and medications, in addition to English language skills," the student born in Yogyakarta, 3 August 1991 said.
On that occasion, Nuvi told about the theme when he had to dealt with complaints, which were prepared by the jury. He told about providing counseling, especially the drug to the patient, starting from the introduction, knowing the data/patient information, lifestyle, disease history, prescribing, up until the final stages. Nuvi assesses that empathy has a large portion of the understanding of the drug and the patient’s recovery. He cited the role that pharmacists have can actually prevent drug misuse as well as the selection of drugs that are appropriate, even affordable by the community. “Sometimes people’s awareness has not emerged to argue and ask questions about the prescription drugs. This is in contrast to the culture that is already built overseas,” Nuvi explained.
Nuvi who competed at his own expense obtained certificate, plaque, and the original therapy book as champion. He hoped in the future the role of pharmacists in Indonesia will be better and equal with doctors. Congratulations!