National Pharmacists Convention focus on integrated healthcare

The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) recently hosted the National Pharmacists Convention 2023 in Subang Jaya, with more than 350 delegates from various sectors and areas of practice, including community, academia, public health, and military pharmacy to shape the future of pharmacy and healthcare in Malaysia.

Themed “Pharmacists in the Evolving Integrated Healthcare Landscape: Navigating Change and Driving Quality in Primary Care,” this prestigious event highlighted pharmacists’ pivotal role in shaping the dynamic healthcare landscape and delivering patient-centred care.

The convention was officiated on 29 July 2023 by Norhaliza A Halim, Senior Director of Pharmaceutical Services. Norhaliza emphasized the essential role of pharmacists in the evolving healthcare landscape. She commended MPS for their dedication to advancing pharmacy education, research, and practice and encouraged pharmacists to embrace change and work towards a patient-centric and sustainable healthcare system.

Datin Dr Mariani Ahmad Nizaruddin, the organising chairperson, expressed her pride and excitement in hosting the event, bringing together passionate pharmacists to explore the theme of the convention. She highlighted the critical role of pharmacists in shaping the future of healthcare and urged attendees to actively participate in discussions and collaborations.

Prof Amrahi Buang, MPS’ President, acknowledged the support of the Director-General of Health and other stakeholders in enhancing the role of pharmacists in primary care. He emphasized the significant roles pharmacists play as an integral part in providing person-centred care and promoting healthy lifestyle choices, aligning with the country’s Health White Paper and Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat (ANMS).

The convention also witnessed the official launch of the Provisionally Registered Pharmacist (PRP) Handbook by Norhaliza. The handbook, initiated by the MPS Young Pharmacists Chapter, aims to support and guide young pharmacists during their transition from students to registered professionals, further promoting the growth of the pharmacy profession.

The 3-day event featured a comprehensive program with 22 plenary sessions, 14 sponsored speakers, and two forums involving esteemed experts from the pharmacy and healthcare fields. The invited plenaries covered crucial topics such as the role of pharmacists in smoking cessation, pre-diabetes management, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, medication review, updates on pharmacy law amendments, self-care intervention in an aging society, patient safety from the industry perspective, and the empowering role of primary care pharmacists through the Malaysian Toxicological Database Hub (MyToxData) system.

Two forums titled “Navigating Change in Optimising Pharmacy Services Delivery in the Integrated Healthcare Landscape: The Way Forward” and “Safeguarding Patients: Using Electronic Prescription Systems (EPS) to Empower Primary Care” provided insightful perspectives on healthcare integration, public-private partnerships, and the role of electronic prescription systems in primary care.

The convention also featured 14 oral and poster presentations from pharmacy students, researchers, and practitioners, highlighting the latest findings and advancements in the field of pharmacy.

The National Pharmacists Convention 2023 serves as a platform to exchange ideas, foster collaboration, and shape the future of pharmacy in Malaysia. With a strong commitment to providing quality healthcare, pharmacists are poised to drive positive change in the nation’s integrated healthcare landscape.