Yogyakarta, 25 Oktober 2025 – Students from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) have once again achieved remarkable success at the national level. The team, consisting of Wimala Sephastika and Faqih Fikri Nuryanto, won First Place in the Scientific Essay Competition at Pharmaporia 2025.
The competition was organized by the Student Association of the Pharmacy Department, Poltekkes Kemenkes Surakarta, to commemorate Indonesia’s National Health Day (HKN) 2025. The essay competition carried the theme “One Step Toward Health, A Thousand Benefits for the Nation” and was joined by university students from across Indonesia.
The UGM Pharmacy team secured the top position with their essay titled “PharmAid: An Educational and Consultation Website Innovation to Reduce Medication Errors in Community Self-Medication.” The work highlights a pressing issue, the widespread practice of self-medication in Indonesia, which often occurs without sufficient understanding of proper drug use.
The PharmAid innovation presents a digital, interactive educational and consultation platform that helps the public access credible drug information, consult online with pharmacists through PharmaPals, explore a digital library called PharmaPedia, and engage in educational quizzes via PharmaQuiz. Additionally, PharmAid features AIDBox, a smart first-aid kit equipped with QR code integration to provide step-by-step first-aid guidance based on specific symptoms.
With its practical and solution-oriented approach, the innovation is recognized for its potential to strengthen the role of pharmacists in improving public health literacy and ensuring rational, safe, and responsible drug use.
This achievement stands as a testament to the dedication and creativity of UGM Pharmacy students in delivering health innovations rooted in pharmaceutical science, innovations that respond directly to societal needs and embody the spirit of this year’s National Health Day theme, aligning with the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 3 (good health and well-being) and SDG 4 (quality education)
