Dilema Graduan Farmasi (Harian Metro, 5/09/11)
The following article was published in Harian Metro on the 5th September 2011: BIDANG farmasi adalah bidang yang luas prospek kerjayanya. Di negara maju seperti Amerika Syarikat, United Kingdom dan Jepun, bidang farmasi adalah profesion yang penting dan dihormati dalam memastikan aspek kesihatan masyarakatnya berada dalam keadaan terbaik dan terpelihara. Di Malaysia, bidang farmasi adalah bidang yang baru menempah nama sekitar lima hingga 10 tahun lalu. Keperluan ahli farmasi yang terlalu tinggi dalam sektor awam mendorong ramai pelajar memilih bidang farmasi sebagai kursus pilihan...
Read MoreThe Next Step
The following article was written by Ngiow Sin Yee, a freshly graduated pharmacist from the International Medical University (IMU). She is also the winner for both the Wintrop and Boehringer-Ingelheim Award for excellence in Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the graduating class 2011. “I don’t want to be a pharmacist. I don’t want to repeat the daily job of only supplying medicines!” the daughter with a wrong perception of pharmacy yelled agitatedly to her mother, who was busy flipping the education directory. A few years later… “I’m here...
Read MoreA Young Pharmacist’s Thoughts
The following article was written by Mr Lim Kean Ping, a provisionally registered pharmacist/anti-smoking activist currently based in Sabah I never thought I would end up as a pharmacist. I was a Physics student during Form 6 and a lot of people asked me, WHY? Well to be honest, after Form 5 I was still uncertain about my future and I didn’t want to make the decision that fast. I chose Physics as I believed that if I were not interested in Physics after completing my Form 6 and changed to the Biology stream, it would be easier than doing it the other way around. And yes, my backup plan...
Read MoreREPLY TO “Comments From J”, MPS-I Bulletin 110714
Self regulation without a penalty for infringements could be dangerous. But if there is a severe penalty hanging over the neck, then self regulation might produce even better results than government regulation. Just a few quick pointers to share with the readers for them to form an opinion of his/her own: a) Who would advertise if not to increase their sales leading to more profit b) Who would spend (more) large amount of money if the return is not greater & faster than other conventional means of (a great variety of) financial/investment...
Read MoreCan You Beat The Market?
The following article is written by Mr Soh Boon Hong, a retail pharmacist For those of you running a retail pharmacy biz, yeah you, who slaved 75 hours a week running your biz you think you are better than the market? Can you beat the market? Can you, with your intervention and input be better than the market? Are you better than our KLCI? Now, why do I choose KLCI? Well simply KLCI is an index of 30 different types of diverse businesses that is listed in our KLSE. And as such will be a good average indicator for comparison with your business. Let’s take a look at some KLCI date, courtesy...
Read MoreIs Pharmacy The Right Choice For Me?
The following article was written by Xin Yun, an unemployed pharmacy graduate currently looking for interesting activities to fill her free time. Do you still remember being asked about your ambition when you were young? Pharmacist was never on my list back then. I barely even understood the term pharmacy, let alone aspired myself to be part of the fast-growing profession. Coming from a typical traditional Chinese family, my parents play an important role in shaping my future career. But, don’t get me wrong, I was not forced in to this. Instead, I was the one who made the life-changing...
Read MoreLiow: Hospitals must stock enough medicine (The Star, 13/07/11)
The following article was published in The Star on the 13th of July 2011: SEREMBAN: All public hospitals and health clinics must have sufficient supply of medicine at all times, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. He said no patient should be turned away because the hospital or health clinic had no more medicine. “Hospitals and clinics must check their stock regularly. If they know that they are running low on a particular medicine, then they have to contact the nearest hospital or clinic for temporary supply until their regular ones arrive.” He said repeat medication given...
Read MoreWe Can’t Do This Alone
I walked into the ward in the morning thinking, “Here we go again…” Another day of asking patients their medication histories only to be faced with blank stares from patients who cannot remember their medications, families who could not be bothered to bring their meds and old notes that only detail the patient’s medications 5 years ago. Another day of copying down a million details from one sheet to another sheet of paper knowing that no one will likely see these notes while fighting off that pressing feeling of being a photostat machine. Another day of making...
Read MorePharmacists: The Misers of the Medical Field?
“Let’s try to limit the number of days we continue his antibiotic, I can already see our pharmacist about to pounce on us for using so much medication” “Why are you buying the generic version of this drug? Quality is more important than cost, you know!” “…easy for you to say. I’ll make sure to downgrade YOUR antibiotics if you ever get hospitalized here” I’m pretty sure we’ve all heard statements to that effect, with the last one often muttered half-jokingly. To many doctors in the public hospitals, pharmacists are...
Read MoreSinChew: Improving Healthcare Delivery & Dispensing Separation
Dear pharmacists, As we approach the 44th MPS AGM (scheduled on 19/03/11), I wish to highlight an issue that strikes a chord with most of us. I translated this from a Sin Chew commentary dated 25/01/11, to share the thoughts behind the article with everyone; especially fellow colleagues who cannot read Chinese. Several disclaimers: I do not possess any qualification in Chinese-English translation. All translations are based on my understanding of the issue and message behind the article. Hence, the article was translated based on the idea and not direct word-for-word translation. I do not aim...
Read MoreAbout Us
The Young Pharmacist Chapter of the MPS is a dedicated group of young pharmacists passionate about pharmacy and its role to play in Malaysia! So join us and make yourself count to your profession and your nation.