Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the professional competence of its students, the Master of Pharmacy Management Program at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, has successfully conducted an international internship program. This year, the internship was held at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Malaya, and Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from July 15 to 19, 2024.
The program involved six representative students from UGM’s Master of Pharmacy Management (MMF) program: Ferina Septiani Damanik, Ni Putu Vyra Gynanti Putri, I Kadek Suardina, Raihana Nurul Izzah, Jane Rochmanov, and Primo Bittaqwa. These students were selected to gain hands-on experience in understanding and applying pharmaceutical management concepts in real-world settings.
The internship program is part of the Freedom to Learn – UGM Independent Campus (MBKM), aimed at providing students with hands-on experience in understanding and applying pharmaceutical management concepts in real-world settings. By synergizing the soft and hard skills acquired during their coursework, the students are expected to critically evaluate and offer recommendations for improving policies and practices in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.
Dr. Raja Ahsan Aftab, who serves as the Head of the Department of Clinical and Practical Pharmacy at Universiti Malaya, also played a crucial role as the supervisor of this internship program. In his opening remarks, Dr. Aftab expressed his appreciation for the involvement of UGM students in the program. “We hope this activity not only strengthens the relationship between our two universities but also provides new insights for the participants on the practical application of pharmaceutical management in real-world settings,” he said.
During the internship, participants undertook a comprehensive 40-hour educational experience, which included diverse learning methods: in-class lectures led by Ms Wong Yin Yen (senior Pharmacist at UMMC), faculty visits supervised by Ms Syireen Alwi, hospital visits to UMMC supervised by Ms Mary Lee Hong-Gee, and case study supervised by Dr Raja Ahsan Aftab. The in-class lectures covered topics of Drug Information Systems, Drug Formulary Management, and Drug Storage Systems, emphasising leveraging information technology to enhance drug management efficiency in healthcare settings. The case study focused on two topics: (1) The impact of technological advancements on drug storage management and (2) Strategies for effective formulary management. On the last day of the program, participants presented the results of their case study during the final meeting, which also served as the closing ceremony for the internship.
The internship program is expected to benefit the participants significantly, particularly in developing their critical, systematic, and innovative thinking skills, In line with the implementation of SDG Number 4 (Quality Education). The collaboration between the two Universities is also an implementation of SDG No. 17 (Partnership in achieving goals). Furthermore, the outcomes of this program are anticipated to provide relevant recommendations and solutions to address the challenges faced in pharmaceutical management at the host institutions. With the successful completion of this internship, the Faculty of Pharmacy at UGM reaffirms its commitment to providing an education that excels in academic rigour and practical relevance. (Ferina/MMF UGM)