Yogyakarta, 29 June 2026 — A team of students from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has once again achieved a proud accomplishment on the national stage by winning the title of Gold Winner 1 in the prestigious Poltekkes Banten Competition 2026. This achievement was secured in the Scientific Essay Competition category, which was organised online by the Student Activity Unit (UKM) for Research and Development (LitBang) at the Poltekkes Kemenkes Banten from 19 April to 10 May 2026.
Carrying the theme of “Unity in Action: Empowering Youth Through Competition”, this competition challenges participants to address national issues through four sub-themes: Health, Education, Economy and Technology. The selection process was strict, comprising two stages: it began with the assessment of essay submissions from participants across Indonesia, and concluded with a presentation stage involving only the top 10 finalists.
This success was the result of a collaboration between three UGM students: Novelia Ardian Kharimah from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Salsabilla Dwira Syaikhah from the Faculty of Biology, and Tsabita Puan Najla from the Faculty of Dentistry. The team presented an innovation in the field of health through an essay entitled “Herbal Transdermal Patch from Centella Asiatica and Nutmeg as a Treatment for Insomnia Resulting from Withdrawal from Narcotics, Psychotropic Substances and Addictive Substances (NAPZA)”. This scientific work offers a practical alternative therapeutic solution to address the sleep disturbances frequently experienced by patients during recovery from dependence on Narcotics, Psychotropic Substances and Addictive Substances (NAPZA).
This achievement reflects the hard work, dedication and strong scientific spirit of the team members. This essay is considered to make a tangible contribution to the development of health therapies based on local Indonesian herbs. It is hoped that this outstanding achievement will inspire other UGM students to continue collaborating, producing work and bringing honour to their alma mater in national competitions.
Furthermore, this achievement is a tangible demonstration of the contribution made by students and the Faculty of Pharmacy of Universitas Gadjah Mada towards supporting the Sustainable Development Goals, including a direct contribution to the achievement of SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-being, particularly the target of strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including the misuse of narcotics, as well as the mental health recovery of patients (insomnia). In addition, the development of a transdermal patch as an alternative therapy utilising herbal medicines, centella asiatica and nutmeg, is also fully aligned with SDG 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, as a form of commercialisation of research and innovation in the field of pharmaceutical technology.
Writer: Gilang
Editor: Fathul
