Medicinal drug manufacturing starts with research and development that can take years. After finding a potential compound, pharmaceutical companies would conduct a series of clinical trials to ensure its safety and effectiveness. The clinical trials will take place in several phases, starting from preclinical trials on laboratory animals to clinical trials on humans.

Each stage of clinical trials must be approved by the drug regulatory agency, and the results must be documented in detail to ensure that all data obtained is accurate and accountable. After successful clinical trials, the drug must undergo a stringent production process.

Factories that produce medicinal drugs must meet the best practices of drug manufacturing.The drug regulatory agency must inspect the medicines regularly to make sure they comply with the existing regulations. Each stage of production, from procurement of raw materials, manufacturing, quality testing, to final packaging, must be carried out with established procedures and well documented. This is to ensure that the drugs produced are safe for public consumption.

Its labeling must also be clear and accurate. Information such as dosage, indications, contraindications, side effects, and expiration dates must be clearly stated on the packaging.This is important to prevent misuse and make sure the consumers get the right information about the medicines they are about to take.

Pharmaceutical companies must also have a system to report and handle side effects that may occur after the drug goes into the market -- also known as pharmacovigilance. It seeks to keep an eye on drug safety and take necessary action in case of any severe or unwanted side effects.

In the pharmaceutical world, compliance with pharmacopoeial regulations and standards is not something to be taken lightly. This is the foundation that ensures that every drug on the market is the result of a highly controlled and safe process. By adhering to these strict regulations, pharmaceutical companies can ensure that they are providing the best products for the health and well-being of the community.

Responsible handling in the development, production, and distribution of drugs is key as it concerns people’s health.

Medicines are on a sacred mission to treat people and this is what sets them apart from other commercial goods. The discovery and use of modern drugs significantly extend human life. Fatal diseases such as the Covid-19, Hepatitis B and C, HIV, as well as various types of cancer, are now treatable by taking effective drugs.

Medicinal drugs help people go through therapy that allows them to live a normal life. The most prominent example of the use of drugs is insulin, a hormone therapy drug for diabetics and antihypertensives for people with high blood pressure.

Medicines have helped many infertile couples to have children. In vitro fertilization or IVF has helped couples address their infertility. Certain hormonal drugs also give childless couples hope.

Immunosuppressants help organ transplant recipients survive longer. Other drugs have also been shown to delay death for patients with acute organ disease. Chemotherapy drugs and targeted therapies have succeeded in bringing cancer patients into remission, where the patient can be free of the disease and enjoy a normal life. Imagine if there were no such drugs, both patients and their families would worry that their lives could end at any time.

These are just a few concrete examples. 

There are many other examples of the very diverse use of drugs: antibiotics for the treatment of serious infections such as pneumonia, sepsis, and tuberculosis; antivirals for the management of infections such as Covid-19, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, and C. There are also antihypertensive drugs to reduce blood pressure and prevent cardiovascular complications. As well as antidepressants for patients who suffer from major depressive disorder. 

All of them show a common thread that it is undeniable that medicines have a life mission: to protect and save humans by all means. This mission requires several basic concepts: social justice, research and development, sustainability, education, and humanitarianism.

Although drugs can be traded in the open market through regulated channels, for example, over-the-counter pharmacies or pharmacies in hospitals, their value is greater than money. Drugs carry a sacred message to save lives, prolong life, and provide a better quality of life for humans.

So when the pharmaceutical industry develops, produces, and supplies drugs, they always prioritize the production of medicines that can improve human welfare and survival. The manufacture of medicines must always take into account regulatory principles with a commitment to high ethics. These principles are always oriented towards protecting human health and well-being, rather than those of economic management. Medicines bring hope, not only to the individuals who use them but also to society as a whole. Every time a new medicine is discovered, it is a step forward for all of humanity in the fight against disease and suffering. Medicines are a symbol of scientific progress, the relentless dedication of researchers, and the commitment to improving our quality of life. Amidst all the dynamics of the global market and economy, it is important for us not to forget that behind every pill, injection, and dose of medicine, there is hope and a life waiting to be saved.

That is why we must treat medicines as something more than just a commodity. We must value medicines as part of our humanitarian mission to improve health and well-being and ensure that everyone has fair and equal access to the medicines they need.

This way, we not only respect the intrinsic value of medicines but also strengthen our commitment to the human values ​​that underlie our efforts in the health sector.

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Raymond R. Tjandrawinata is a professor and an analyst in health biotechnology at Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia.