JAKARTA - The Faculty of Medicine IPB University held a guest lecture with the theme "Jamu's Role in Increasing Indonesian Public Health: Empirical and Scientific Evidence" by presenting the Director of PT Sido Muncul, Dr (HC) Irwan Hidayat, as the main resource person, Monday, May 19.
The event was opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, IPB University, Dr. Dr. Ivan Rizal Sini, GDRM, MMIS, FRANZCOG, SpOG, who conveyed the importance of collaboration between academics and industry in advancing herbal-based medicine in Indonesia.
In his remarks, Dr Ivan emphasized that medical students need to understand the social context and culture of society, including the great potential of medicinal plants as part of proof-based complementary therapy.
He said that most Indonesians still depend on traditional medicine, so that scientific approaches to herbal medicine are increasingly relevant.
"We need doctors who have empathy and insight into local wisdom. Herbals are not just alternatives, but must be scientifically understood so that they can be used optimally in health services," said Dr Ivan.
He also said that IPB University is actively conducting herbal research and opening collaboration with industry, including PT Sido Muncul, for the development of medicinal plant-based products.
Meanwhile, in the guest lecture session, Dr (HC) Irwan Hidayat shared his long experience in building and developing the research-based herbal medicine industry, especially through superior products Tolak Angin.
He said that Sido Muncul's success could not be separated from efforts to juxtapose the legacy of traditional herbal medicine with modern pharmaceutical standards.
"I started working in Sido Muncul since 1969 without a formal educational background in the health sector. But I thought, why can't herbal medicine follow in the footsteps of the pharmaceutical world? That's where it all started," said Irwan.
The first step taken was to choose superior products with large market potential. He chose to 'enter the wind' as a familiar symptom in society and develop Tolak Angin as the main product. To increase his credibility, Irwan decided to conduct a series of scientific tests on the product.
"We started with a literature study, then conducted toxicity tests and trials of efficacy with the medical and pharmaceutical faculty. One of the results shows that Tolak Angin is able to increase T cells that play a role in the body's immune system," he explained.
Irwan also emphasized the importance of building public trust and medical circles through effective communication. Slogan 'Smart People Drink Tolak Angin' is not just promotion, but a form of education to win the hearts and logic of consumers.
One of Sido Muncul's great achievements is to make the first herbal medicine factory pharmaceutical standard and inaugurated directly by the Minister of Health in 2002. Standardization is key. We want to show that herbal medicine can compete with modern drugs if it follows scientific principles," he added.
Of the 1,600 herbal factories in Indonesia, only a handful survive. Our key is scientific-based and collaborating with scientists and doctors. The public is now demanding evidence, not just a myth," said Irwan.
In the discussion session, Irwan also mentioned the importance of collaboration between the herbal medicine industry and the medical world. He hopes that doctors can participate in the research and utilization of Indonesian natural ingredients which are very rich and have the potential to be developed into phytopharmaca.
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I have spoken at more than 50 medical faculties. If it is not trusted, I will not be invited there. This is proof that herbal medicine is starting to be accepted as part of a rational treatment, "said Irwan.
He closed his studies with moral messages and life philosophy for students of the Faculty of Medicine, IPB University, about the importance of reason, which according to him is the secret of success and the key to becoming a useful person, both as a doctor and industry player.
'Patients are not just diagnosiss. Ask the cause of illness, understand the background. Be a doctor who respects life,' he said
This guest lecture event not only provides new insights into the herbal world, but also raises the enthusiasm of participants to develop Indonesia's biological wealth scientifically and sustainably.
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