Yogyakarta, August 20, 2026 — Students of the Pharmacy Study Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), achieved outstanding international recognition at the Rx Tournament 2nd Edition IPSF 2026. Team B30, comprising Amer, a 2024 student of the UGM Pharmacy Study Program from the International Undergraduate Program (IUP), and three students from other universities, won 1st Place in the Pharmacy Profession Advocacy Campaign (PPAC) Beginner Level and 2nd Place in the Industrial Skills Event (ISE) Beginner Level.
The Rx Tournament is a pharmaceutical competition organized by the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF), an international organization that has supported and advocated for pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences students since 1949. In its second edition, the Rx Tournament featured five competition categories at both the Beginner and Advanced levels: Compounding Event (CE), Clinical Skills Event (CSE), Industrial Skills Event (ISE), Patient Counselling Event (PCE), and Pharmacy Profession Advocacy Campaign (PPAC).
Held from April 29 to June 13, 2026, the competition centered on a shared case study involving a patient with uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus accompanied by hypertension, dyslipidemia, bipolar disorder, obesity, and peripheral neuropathy.
The case study challenged participants to integrate various aspects of pharmaceutical knowledge and practice. In the CE category, participants were required to perform pharmaceutical formulation calculations and compounding techniques. The CSE challenged participants to prepare a SOAP Note and conduct a clinical case simulation. In the ISE, participants developed a concept for a digital health application to support chronic disease management. Meanwhile, the PCE assessed participants’ patient counselling skills through a video simulation, while the PPAC evaluated their ability to communicate and advocate for the role of pharmacists through an educational campaign.
All competition assignments were submitted online and assessed by the IPSF judging panel. The final round was held on June 6, 2026, where Team B30 competed in all five categories at the Beginner Level.
Through thorough preparation, effective task distribution, and strong teamwork, Team B30 achieved remarkable results. In addition to securing 1st Place in PPAC Beginner Level and 2nd Place in ISE Beginner Level, the team also reached the finals and placed fifth in the Patient Counselling Event (PCE), Clinical Skills Event (CSE), and Compounding Event (CE).
The achievement demonstrates the ability of UGM Pharmacy students to integrate diverse pharmaceutical competencies, encompassing compounding, clinical practice, pharmaceutical industry, patient counselling, and professional advocacy. Team B30’s success also highlights the contribution of UGM Pharmacy students to the international pharmaceutical community, while demonstrating their competence and collaborative spirit alongside pharmacy students from other institutions.
The achievement also contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education through competency development based on case studies and international competition experience, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth through the strengthening of professional skills and students’ readiness for the world of work, and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure through the development of innovative, technology-based healthcare solutions in the Industrial Skills Event.
