Showing support: One of the participants donating blood at the campaign.

UCSI student doing her part in serving the community.

UCSI student, Fiona Chow, attending to one of the participants of the campaign.

(from left to right) Ministry of Health’s Pharmacy Practice and Development senior assistant director K. Heygaajivan Kernas, Genecare managing director Lew Hon Kean, Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society representative as council member Professor Dr Yeoh Peng

To increase knowledge on the rational use of medicine… that was the aim of UCSI University’s Know Your Medicine Campaign 2018 jointly organised by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Pharmaceutical Services Division, Ministry of Health.

The campaign was also held in support of the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular, SDG 3, Good Health and Well Being.

The campaign was attended by Ministry of Health's Pharmacy Practice and Development deputy director, Datin Dr Faridah Aryani Md Yusof, who in her opening address emphasised that discussion of health-related information is important in the rational use of medicine.

“A pharmacist has the obligation of creating awareness and educating the public through the rational use of medicine while helping them to make informed decisions in drug related issues,” she said.

UCSI University’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences dean, Assistant Professor Dr Mogana Sundari Rajagopal said, “This campaign also aims at educating the public in the early detection of diseases as well as giving students an early taste of serving the community by being innovative, ethical and through lifelong learning. 

“UCSI’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences stands out for its 19-year track record of excellence; one that has seen it producing more than 1,200 pharmacy graduates.

“Furthermore, at UCSI, our lecturers constantly embrace latest advancements in drug discovery and pharmaceutical healthcare in a rapidly changing industry towards the fourth industrial revolution,” she said.

One of the highlights of the campaign was the “brown bag medication check-up” where the pharmacist screens the prescription for the correct dosage, strength, frequency, potential duplication of therapy or side effects; identify expired medicine, and answer any medication-related questions .

“We give advice on taking medicine in an appropriate manner and suggest other medicines if the current ones are not working well,” said Assistant Professor Dr Aziz Ur Rahman, one of the faculty members at the “brown bag” booth.  

UCSI also welcomed Ministry of Health’s Pharmacy Practice and Development senior assistant director, K. Heygaajivan Kernas who was one of the speakers during the campaign.

His talk was on the necessity of medicine and supplements being registered with the Ministry of Health before being sold to the public to ensure quality, safety and efficacy.

He explained that some adulterated products may include steroids, sibutramine, sildenafil and tranexamic acid. He also stated that to prove its authenticity, all registered medication should have the registration number and its hologram Meditag respectively.

Genecare managing director, Lew Hon Kean spoke about how genetic profiling is important in a precision preventive health care plan. According to him, individuals have differing reactions to medicine depending on their risk factors, lifestyles, and inherited diseases.

The campaign also included personalised counselling to avoid drug-related complications, prevention and early detection of life-threatening chronic diseases such hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and obesity as well as a blood donation drive.

Overall, the campaign proved to be a successful one benefiting the public as well as staff and students. It certainly led to an increased awareness in taking medication responsibly and correctly, which are essential if one is to live a healthy life.