USU PHARMACY PUBLIC RELATIONS – The Faculty of Pharmacy of the Universitas Sumatera Utara received a visit from the Ministry of Health, Directorate General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices on Tuesday (20/8), in the 2nd Floor Meeting Room of the USU Faculty of Pharmacy with the agenda of discussion regarding pharmacoeconomic studies/analysis at universities in the context of evaluating the implementation of pharmacoeconomic drugs in the National Formulary (Fornas).

The Ministry of Health officials/employees on duty during the visit included: Erie Gusnellyanti, S.Sc., Apt., MKM.; Rohayati Rahafat, S.Sc., Apt., MKM.; Arbiansyah Priyastama, S.Farm., Apt.,; and precise. Septri Suzana, S. Farm. who is a representative of the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Production and Distribution.

The visit of representatives of the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Production and Distribution, Ministry of Health was welcomed by the Dean of the USU Faculty of Pharmacy, Khairunnisa, S.Si., M.Pharm., Ph.D. Apt.; Vice Dean II, Hari Ronaldo Tanjung, S.Si., M.Sc., Apt.; and USU Faculty of Pharmacy lecturers, Prof. Dr. Azizah Nasution, M.Sc., Ph.D.; and Imam Bagus Sumantri, S.Farm., M.Si., Apt.

As has been officially conveyed by letter, to support quality control and cost control in the National Health Insurance (JKN) program, the Ministry of Health prepares National Formulary (Fornas) drugs based on evidence-based medicine (EBM) criteria, where one of the criteria is to have a high benefit-cost ratio. Due to the need for pharmacoeconomic study results to fulfill drug cost-effectiveness criteria in selecting Fornas drugs, a visit was made to the USU Faculty of Pharmacy to evaluate the pharmacoeconomic implementation of Fornas drugs.

This visit also aims to expand networks with academics, discuss possible collaborations, and identify pharmacoeconomic studies/analyses carried out by lecturers or students.