The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, has achieved another milestone as the university’s Community Pharmacy Practice Site (Faculty Pharmacy Outlet) received the “Driving Force for RDU Thailand” Honorary Award at The First National Conference on Rational Drug Use, held under the theme “RDU Empowering Thailand: Because Everyone Is a Driving Force Toward Rational Drug Use”. The event took place from July 8–9, 2025, at Centara Government Complex Hotel, Chaeng Watthana, Bangkok. Representing KKU to receive the prestigious award was Ms. Nirachara Tawinkan, pharmacist at the Community Pharmacy Practice Site.
On the same occasion, fourth-year pharmacy students Mr. Chatch Cherdchai and Mr. Surakiat Kaewkanha also received national recognition as winners of the Rational Pharma Challenge 2025, a competition organized by the Thai Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health. Their project focused on “Addressing Case-Based Challenges for Sustainable Rational Drug Use in Communities” and earned them a commemorative plaque for their innovation and insight.
Mr. Chatch Cherdchai remarked that the curriculum and training at KKU’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences greatly contributed to their success in this national competition. He credited the faculty’s “Community Pharmacy Immersion Program”, where students engage directly with real communities to assess local health behaviors. Drawing on these field experiences, the team was able to accurately and effectively respond to complex questions during the competition. The judging panel noted that the proposed innovations truly supported pharmacists in providing precise and case-specific drug assessments, without increasing their workload. The system was seen as practical, pharmacist-friendly, and genuinely beneficial to public health.
The competition included pharmacy faculties from 21 universities across Thailand and was held in two rounds. The first was a “speed test” round, requiring participants to answer timed questions where accuracy and speed determined the top scorers. KKU achieved the highest score in this round and advanced to the final round, where participants tackled a case-based problem involving irrational or inappropriate drug use. Finalists were required to propose innovative solutions to these real-world challenges.
KKU’s winning team, comprised of Mr. Chatch Cherdchai and Mr. Surakiat Kaewkanha, proposed an integrated innovation consisting of three systems. The first, RDU Point, is a support tool for community pharmacists that enables concurrent assessment of rational drug use alongside medication dispensing through the A-Med Care system, part of the national initiative for minor illness treatment at pharmacies. This tool helps pharmacists make patient-specific decisions and ensures appropriate drug use across communities.
The second system, HOSLAB, compiles laboratory data and medication records from various healthcare facilities, enabling pharmacists to accurately track and manage patients’ medications, thereby improving safety and reducing risks from overuse or misuse of drugs.
The third system, RDU Exam, encourages active learning among the general public by promoting awareness of the dangers of irrational drug use and the benefits of rational use. It aims to educate and empower communities to make informed decisions regarding medication.
These student-led innovations not only impressed the judges but also demonstrated the university’s commitment to developing practical, scalable solutions that support Thailand’s national goals for rational drug use.
