Beyond dispensing: Nurturing pharmacists for healthier communities

At UoC, the Faculty of Pharmacy integrates communication skills, clinical reasoning, digital literacy and the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary healthcare teams.

WHEN most people think of pharmacists, they picture someone dispensing medicines behind a counter. While that remains an important part of the profession, it is only one aspect of what pharmacists do today.

As healthcare becomes increasingly complex, pharmacists are playing a much broader role in helping people stay healthy. They are among the most accessible healthcare professionals, providing medication counselling, supporting patients with chronic conditions, promoting preventive healthcare and working alongside doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to improve treatment outcomes.

In conjunction with World Pharmacists Day 2026, themed “Empowering Pharmacists for Healthier Futures”, it is an opportune time to recognise how the profession continues to evolve alongside advances in healthcare, technology and patient care.

The future of healthcare is increasingly shaped by digital health technologies, artificial intelligence, personalised medicine and data-driven decision-making. These developments are transforming the way medicines are developed, prescribed and monitored, creating new opportunities for pharmacists to contribute beyond traditional practice.

Today’s pharmacists are helping to improve medication safety, support precision medicine, contribute to healthcare innovation and strengthen public health initiatives. They are becoming key partners in building healthcare systems that are more preventive, patient-centred and responsive to society's changing needs.

'Pharmacists today play much broader roles than many people realise,' said Prof Gan

“Pharmacists today play much broader roles than many people realise,” said University of Cyberjaya (UoC) Faculty of Pharmacy dean Prof Dr Gan Siew Hua.

“Beyond medicines, they contribute directly to patient care, public health and healthcare innovation.

“As healthcare continues to evolve, future pharmacists must be adaptable, collaborative and committed to delivering the best possible outcomes for patients.”

Preparing graduates for this future requires more than a strong scientific foundation. Tomorrow’s pharmacists also need communication skills, clinical reasoning, digital literacy and the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary healthcare teams.

At UoC, the Faculty of Pharmacy integrates these competencies through a future-oriented curriculum that combines pharmaceutical sciences with experiential learning.

UoC’s Faculty of Pharmacy integrates community work into its curriculum, ensuring graduates have the compassion, adaptability and leadership to serve patients and communities with confidence.

Students gain practical exposure through laboratory sessions, simulation-based learning, clinical attachments and industrial placements, allowing them to apply their knowledge in real healthcare settings while learning from experienced practitioners.

Opportunities for research, innovation and interprofessional learning further prepare graduates to navigate an evolving healthcare landscape.

These experiences also reflect the diversity of today's pharmacy profession. Graduates can pursue careers in community and hospital pharmacy, the pharmaceutical industry, clinical research, biotechnology, regulatory affairs, public health, academia and many other sectors.

The profession offers multiple pathways for those who are passionate about science, healthcare and improving lives.

As healthcare continues to evolve, empowering future pharmacists means equipping them not only with technical knowledge, but also with the compassion, adaptability and leadership to serve patients and communities with confidence.

Students and parents interested in exploring a future in pharmacy are invited to attend the university’s Info Day on Sept 19 and 20, 10am to 4pm. Meet academic staff, discover the varsity’s pharmacy programmes and learn how a career in pharmacy can contribute to healthier communities and healthier futures. Register at https://cyberjaya.edu.my/info-day-2026 .

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在 UoC，药学院将沟通技巧、临床推理能力、数字素养以及在多学科医疗团队中有效工作的能力融为一体。

大多数人想到药剂师，都会想到他们在柜台后面配药的画面。虽然这仍然是药剂师职业的重要组成部分，但这只是如今药剂师工作的一个方面。

随着医疗保健日益复杂，药剂师在帮助人们保持健康方面发挥着越来越重要的作用。他们是最容易接触到的医疗保健专业人员之一，提供用药咨询、支持慢性病患者、推广预防性医疗保健，并与医生、护士和其他医疗保健专业人员合作，以改善治疗效果。

值此 2026 年世界药剂师日之际，主题为“赋能药剂师，共创更健康的未来”，这是一个了解药剂师这一职业如何随着医疗保健、技术和患者护理的进步而不断发展的良机。

数字医疗技术、人工智能、个性化医疗和数据驱动决策正日益塑造着医疗保健的未来。这些发展正在改变药物的研发、处方和监测方式，为药剂师在传统实践之外做出贡献创造了新的机遇。

如今的药剂师正助力提升用药安全，支持精准医疗，推动医疗创新，并加强公共卫生举措。他们正成为构建更具预防性、以患者为中心且能响应社会不断变化的需求的医疗体系的关键合作伙伴。

“如今药剂师的角色远比许多人意识到的要广泛得多，”甘教授说道。

“如今药剂师扮演的角色比许多人意识到的要广泛得多，”赛城大学（UoC）药学院院长颜秀华教授说。

“除了药品之外，它们还直接为患者护理、公共卫生和医疗保健创新做出贡献。

“随着医疗保健的不断发展，未来的药剂师必须具备适应能力、协作精神，并致力于为患者提供最佳的治疗效果。”

要让毕业生为未来做好准备，需要的不仅仅是扎实的科学基础。未来的药剂师还需要沟通技巧、临床推理能力、数字素养以及在多学科医疗团队中高效协作的能力。

在 UoC，药学院通过面向未来的课程将这些能力整合起来，该课程将药学与体验式学习相结合。

奥克兰大学药学院将社区工作融入课程，确保毕业生具备同情心、适应能力和领导才能，从而自信地为患者和社区服务。

学生通过实验室课程、模拟学习、临床实习和工业实习获得实践经验，使他们能够在真实的医疗保健环境中应用所学知识，同时向经验丰富的从业者学习。

研究、创新和跨专业学习的机会，能够进一步帮助毕业生应对不断变化的医疗保健环境。

这些经历也反映了当今药学专业的多元化。毕业生可以在社区药房和医院药房、制药行业、临床研究、生物技术、监管事务、公共卫生、学术界以及许多其他领域从事职业。

该职业为那些对科学、医疗保健和改善生活充满热情的人提供了多条发展道路。

随着医疗保健的不断发展，培养未来的药剂师不仅意味着赋予他们技术知识，还意味着赋予他们同情心、适应能力和领导才能，以便他们能够自信地为患者和社区服务。

有兴趣探索药学未来发展的学生和家长，欢迎参加大学于9月19日和20日上午10点至下午4点举办的信息日活动。届时，您可以与教职员工见面，了解大学的药学课程，并了解药学职业如何为更健康的社区和更美好的未来做出贡献。请访问https://cyberjaya.edu.my/info-day-2026 注册。

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