The Workshop on the Wise Use of Antimicrobials was held today (25/08/2016) at the Golden Palace Hotel - Mataram which will last until August 27, 2016. The activity was opened by the Head of Sub-Directorate of Rational Drug Use Drs. Heru Sunaryo, Apt. Attended by the Head of Public Health Division of NTB Health Office, Lalu Budiarja, S.K.M., M.Kes.

This activity is a continuation of similar activities at the ASEAN level which was held in 2012 in Jakarta, namely the ASEAN Workshop on Rational Use of Antibiotics which is the implementation of the POR program of the ASEAN Working Group on Pharmaceutical Development (AWGPD), and then in 2014 the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services conducted this workshop in 3 Provinces (South Kalimantan, South Sulawesi and West Sumatra) in 2015 for Pharmacists from 14 National Referral Hospitals.

While this year the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services conducted a “Workshop on the Wise Use of Antimicrobials” for Regional Referral Hospitals; in April 2016, 33 pharmacists from 33 Regional Referral Hospitals in the Western Region participated and today the activity will be attended by 55 Regional Referral Hospitals.

Through this activity, it is hoped that in addition to increasing the understanding and knowledge of participants, a network will also be formed between health care facilities, especially hospitals, which will then consistently and continuously carry out efforts to increase the wise use of antimicrobials to support the rational use of drugs.

Participants at this meeting were representatives of 55 Pharmacy Installation Pharmacists from 55 Regional Referral Hospitals, the NTB Provincial Health Office and Mataram City, as well as participants and the central committee with speakers including: Director of Pharmaceutical Services represented by Head of Sub-Directorate of POR, Drs. Didik Hasmono, M.S., Apt. from Faculty of Pharmacy Universitas Airlangga, Prof. Taralan Tambunan, Sp.A. (KPRA, RSUPN Dr. Ciptomangunkusumo), Dr. Hary Parathon, Sp.OG. (KPRA, PPRA Team of RSUD Soetomo), Mariyatul Qibtiyah, S.Si., Apt., Sp.FRS. (KPRA, PPRA Team of RSUD Soetomo).

In addition to the explanation of the material, case discussions were also held to discuss several cases that often occur in the use of antibiotics, as well as group discussions to develop strategies and recommendations to overcome the problem of using antimicrobials, especially antibiotics in each participant's area, with the aim of not only gaining an understanding of the wise use of antimicrobials but can produce recommendations and action plans in the hospital or service place of the participants concerned.

In his remarks, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services said that “Antimicrobial resistance or antibiotic resistance is a global problem, therefore, member countries of the World Health Organization or World Health Organization including Indonesia agreed to carry out antimicrobial resistance control”. The emergence and development of resistant microbes can be controlled through two main activities, namely the prudent use of antibiotics and the application of the principle of preventing the spread of resistant microbes through standard precautions.

According to WHO, rational use of medicines requires that “patients receive the right medicine for their clinical needs, in a dose that meets their needs, for a sufficient period of time, at a cost that is affordable to the individual and the community”. WHO estimates that more than half of all medicines are prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropriately, and half of all patients do not use them correctly. Overuse, underuse, or misuse of medicines leads to wastage.

Therefore, consistent and continuous intervention is needed to address the problem of irrational use of drugs, especially antibiotics. This requires the support of all stakeholders, not only health workers who provide services, but also the community who receive services and academics in providing consistent and sustainable education.

The Ministry of Health in 2014 has established the Antimicrobial Resistance Control Committee (KPRA) to control the widespread use of antimicrobials, both in health care facilities and the community. On the other hand, in several teaching hospitals through the Director General of Health Services, the Antimicrobial Resistance Control Program (PPRA) has been developed to overcome and prevent antibiotic resistance in hospitals.

To achieve and realize the objectives of Rational Drug Use and in the context of controlling Antimicrobial resistance, the Directorate General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices through the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services carries out various policies and efforts to achieve these objectives while taking into account the roles and duties of health professionals, as well as the division of roles and duties of the central and regional levels in accordance with regional autonomy. (Mataram-humasfarmalkes_rd)