After eight years, Indonesia became the host of Asian Conference on Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). The 17th ACCP event also commemorated 20 years of ACCP pioneering practical conference to accelerate transfer of knowledge and enhanced clinical pharmacy practice, education and research in Asia. This year, the conference’s theme was ‘Unity in Diversity and the Standardization of Clinical Pharmacy Services’, provided new solution and answer challenges that had been faced nowadays started with 6 pre-conference workshops on July 27th 2017.
Universitas Gadjah Mada as co-host of this event was delighted to collaborate with the host, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesian Pharmacist Association and 3 others co-host universities (Universitas Sanata Dharma, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan). About 1500 participants were joining this event from 28th -31th July 2017 at Tentrem hotel, Yogyakarta. Representative board members and participants from China, Phillipines, India, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam, USA, Canada, Thailand, Singapore, and Iran were registered.
The opening ceremony was enlivened with a group of Keraton Army who accompanied rectors, deans of host and co-host entering the main stage. Talented students wearing Aceh Traditional clothes entertained the participants with their moved on Saman Dance. Rector of Universitas Airlangga initiated the event with remarks followed with welcoming speech from Governor of Yogyakarta Provincial Region represented by the head of Yogyakarta Provincial Health Office.
Ministry of Health represented by Dra. Maura Linda Sitanggang, PhD, explained about Indonesia current situation and underlined the collaborative work among health care professionals including pharmacists that already implemented in Nusantara Sehat program. She officially opened the whole event consist of workshops, keynote speeches, symposia, oral presentations, poster sessions, gala dinner, and university/hospital visit by sounding the gong at the stage. Following after, she was kindly requested to cut the ribbon in ceremonial inauguration at the exhibition venue, assigned that participants can enter and enjoy the latest innovative products that had been displayed. In the end of the first day conference, presentation session from Prof. Lilian M Lazopardi about the collaborative model and consistent model of clinical pharmacy from Prof. Joseph Dipiro emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration and cooperation among pharmacists and/or other health professionals which stated on the theme, unity in diversity (Marlita)