Yogyakarta, December 18, 2025 — The Faculty of Pharmacy Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has once again hosted its third Focus Group Discussion (FGD) centered on the theme “Regulatory Gaps in Drug Management for Animals and Humans.” The event was held in a hybrid format at the 8th Floor Auditorium of the APSLC Building, Faculty of Pharmacy UGM, and virtually via Zoom Meeting.
The event was officially opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM, Prof. Dr. apt. Satibi, M.Si., followed by introductory remarks from drh. Arif Wicaksono, M.Si., representing the Ministry of Agriculture. This FGD was designed as a scientific forum for academics, practitioners, regulators, and industry to identify regulatory differences that impact public health safety and animal health effectiveness.
The discussion featured several distinguished keynote speakers, including drh. Hendra Wibawa, M.Sc, Ph.D, who discussed the legal foundations of animal medicine, drh. Andi Wijanarko, who reviewed the “Mamuju Vet” case regarding practical challenges in the field, and drh. Kemaz Aditya Dewangga, SH., M.Kn., who highlighted the legal aspects of human drug use by veterinarians.
The discussion highlighted several critical points, most notably the regulatory gap where around 80% of animal health needs still rely on human drug preparations. Current regulations often fail to include specific animal needs within the definition of “drugs,” creating serious challenges for practitioners. This policy vacuum leads to legal uncertainty for veterinarians who must use human drugs “off-label” to save animal lives. Furthermore, the strengthening of veterinary pharmacy infrastructure was a major focus, especially considering that there are currently only three licensed Veterinary Pharmacies in all of Indonesia.
To address these challenges, the FGD resulted in several strategic recommendations. These include the drafting of a Joint Circular Letter between the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, and BPOM as a short-term solution. Additionally, participants advocated for the acceleration of a Minister of a Agricultural Regulation (Permentan) to provide necessary legal standing for the use of human drugs on animals under specific conditions.
The event was attended by 44 participants representing organizations such as IAI, PDHI, ASOHI, BPOM, and the Ministry of Health. These interactive discussions support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through the “One Health” concept, and SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals) by fostering cross-sector collaboration to improve veterinary pharmacy regulation and practice in Indonesia. (Yassifa/HumasFA)
