12th Asia Pacific Pharmaceutical Symposium in Japan

The Asia Pacific Pharmaceutical Symposium 2013 was held in Japan (22nd-28th August 2013). There were a total of 14 participants from Taylor’s University SOP. Around 400 pharmaceutical students from Asia Pacific Region gathered in Tokyo for this special event. This symposium is really a great platform for pharmaceutical students from different countries to interact, exchange opinions and information.
 Day 0
 Most of the participants arrived at Japan on 22^nd Aug. A welcome party was held at night. There were performances from the organising committee. All of the participants were divided into different groups from A-T. Many activities in this APPS were carried out in groups so the ice breaking games in welcome party helped to enhance relationships among group members.

Traditional Japanese performances from the committee



Speech given by Marika Yamada, Chairperson of APPS 2013 and Daisuke Kobayashi, President of Asia Pharmaceutical Students’-Japan

Searching for group members in silence in order to start the ice breaking section





Day 1

Most of the activities throughout the APPS were organised at Toho University, Japan. The Opening Ceremony and Symposium I were held in the morning. There were 10 workshops in this day but every participant can only attend two workshops that they chose before attending APPS.

Workshop 1: Counterfeit Medicines, Cosmetics, Community Pharmacy, Pre Patient Counseling Event, Poster Section I

Workshop 2: Information & Technology Management, Pre Clinical Skills Event, Contact Person Workshop, Student Exchange Workshop, Poster Section II

The event for the first night is International Night. This night was held in Camelot Club at Shibuya. Participants were encouraged to wear their traditional costumes. Participants from each country provided one performance in order to showcase their countries.

Flag Ceremony for all of the participating countries

Group photo after the opening ceremony

Symposium I: ‘The role and importance of self-medication in the 21^st century’ presented by Mr. Akira Uehara, President and CEO of Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings 

Pre PCE Workshop

Counterfeit Medicines Workshop

Group discussions during Cosmetics Workshop

Poster Section (The poster shown is poster from Malaysia that got the first place.)

Performance from Indonesia

Performance from Korea

Performance by Taylor’s SOP, Malaysia

Performance from Thailand

All of the Taylorians wore traditional costumes to attend International Night



Day 2

Every participants can attend two workshops same as the previous day.

Workshop 3: Health Economics, Drug Poisoning, The role of pharmacist in diabetes management, Patient Counseling Event(CSE), Invitation to Drug Discovery

Workshop 4: Self-management & Pharmacy, Complementary Medicines, At-home Medical Care, CSE, Pharmacy Profession Awareness Campaign

After the workshops, there was a campaign that held to promote public awareness regarding self-medication. We had a parade and shouted catchphrases towards public on the road.

Slogans:

1.       ‘Shirou Kusuriwo!’ – ‘Improve your knowledge about medicine!’

2.       ‘Mamorou Kenkou!’ – ‘Stay in healthy.’

3.       ‘Tayorou Yakuzaisi!’ – ‘If you have some question about medicine, you ask pharmacists!’

After the parade, there was a photo contest among groups. Different themes were assigned to different groups. Night for the day is Japanese night. A traditional Japanese summer festival was held specially for APPS 2013. Many Japanese food was prepared and there were traditional Japanese performances too. Finalists of Miss Contest also performed during Japanese night to gain supports from voters.

Diabetes Workshop

Invitation to Drug Discovery workshop

Self-Medication workshop

During the parade with the help of police

 Taylorians' group photo after the parade

Group photo after the parade

Winner for photo contest: Group N

Games, Food & Drinks

Performances

Taylorians taking photo together with uncles at the roadside after the Japanese Night

Day 3

We had our last two workshops on day 3.

Workshop 5: Allied Healthcare, Generic Medicines, Global Health I, OTC Medications, Different role of green tea in Japanese healthcare (A)

Workshop 6: Benefits of everyday food for optimal health, Role of traditional Chinese medicine in Japan, Global Health II, Medication usage in disaster settings and emergencies, Green tea (B)

After the workshop, we had Symposium II that was divided into two parts. Symposium II-A with the topic ‘Scientist as a pharmacist, Pharmacist as a scientist’ presented by Professor Tohru Mizushima while Symposium II-B with the title ‘A world’s first: research in neuropathic pain and neuralgia’ was presented by Mr. Makoto Tsuda.

We had free night on day 3 so every participant was free to explore different destinations that they were interested in Tokyo.

Green Tea Workshop

Optimal Food Workshop

Thailand's presentation for APPS 2015

‘Scientist as a pharmacist, Pharmacist as a scientist’ presented by Professor Tohru Mizushima

‘A world’s first: research in neuropathic pain and neuralgia’ presented by Mr. Makoto Tsuda

Day 4

Day 4 is the day that let all of the participants take a deeper look into Japan and at the same time had fun together. We went for field trip and explored Japan together with group members. There were 3 destinations for field trip but each participants could only attend one.

 Field Trip 1: FANCL Cosmetics Factory + Tokyo University of Science

Field Trip 2: Life Safety Learning Center

Field Trip 3: Kusuri Medicine Museum

Explore Japan:

Tokyo Station

Tokyo Tower

 Auction Night + Miss Contest Final

All of the finalists for Miss Contest

Finalist from Taylor's SOP, Teeq Lui Shi

Winner for Miss Contest, Yvonne Anggasta from Indonesia

 

Enjoying delicious food before Miss Contest and auction

 Day 5

Patient Counseling Event Final was held today. All of the finalists had to be on the stage one by one to be evaluated.

Lionel as patient and the first place of PCE as pharmacist

Symposium III about 'Drugs for neglected diseases' was presented by Ms. Fumiko Hirabayashi, DNDi's Representative Japan.

After the symposium was the closing ceremony.

Prize giving ceremony

The last event for APPS 2013 is the gala night. This is the key social event for APPS.

All of the 14 Taylorians duing gala night

The gala night marked the end of APPS 2013.

Day 6 

The last souvenirs that we received from APPS Japan: a badge and a pendrive with photos of APPS.

All of the participants gained a lot from this meaningful event. We got to knew and learned about many new information and knowledge through workshops, symposiums and discussions. It is also the beginning of great new friendships for participants from different countries.

P.S.: For those who are interested, please be prepared for the coming APPS.