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'He was one of the best': UGM pays tribute to pharmacology professor who died of COVID-19
“The larger family of UGM are mourning over Iwan’s passing today since he was one of the best pharmacology experts in Indonesia,” said UGM rector Panut Mulyono during the funeral on Tuesday.
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Iwan Dwiprahasto delivers a scientific talk in March 2018. (Courtesy of rsa.ugm.ac.id/-)
I
wan Dwiprahasto, a pharmacology professor at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) medical school, Yogyakarta, passed away at around 12 a.m. on Tuesday after battling with COVID-19 at the Dr. Sardjito General Hospital.
Several medical officers wearing protective suits later placed Iwan in his final resting place at the UGM burial ground in Sawit Sari, Yogyakarta, at around 9 a.m. The officers sprayed disinfectant on the soil surrounding his grave when the funeral was over.
The university also held a funeral service in honor of the 58-year-old professor’s dedication to medical science development in Indonesia, which was attended by dozens of people wearing masks and also broadcast live via the university’s official Instagram account.
“The larger family of UGM are mourning over Iwan’s passing today since he was one of the best pharmacology experts in Indonesia,” said UGM rector Panut Mulyono during the funeral on Tuesday.
Panut said that Iwan had always encouraged fellow medical experts to refer to scientific evidence to improve the quality of public health in the country. His concern, Panut added, stemmed from the fact that many people consumed drugs and medication outside of doctors’ recommendations.
“This happens because medical professionals in developing countries fail to keep up with the latest pharmacology information. As a result, many pharmaceutical corporations have exploited the situation by giving doctors false information regarding their drugs or medicines,” Panut said, noting that this message had also been conveyed by Iwan during his professorial inauguration on Jan. 7, 2008.
“However, God has called him before he could see medical professionals not being deceived by pharmaceutical companies anymore,” he added.
Iwan was rushed to the hospital on March 15 and later confirmed as the second COVID-19 case in the province.
According to administration data, there are currently five COVID-19 patients in the province while 86 others have been tested. (glh)
