Webinar

“Community and Clinical Pharmacy Practices in Malaysia: A Learning by Sharing”

Saturday, 24th October 2020

COMMUNITY PHARMACY
IN MALAYSIA

MSUmalaysia.SPH msu.sph

Ibrahim Abdullah
BPharm (Notts), Master Clinical Pharmacy (MSU)
Deputy Dean, School of Pharmacy
MSU, Malaysia
Myself - IBRAHIM ABDULLAH RPh MPPS

• Indonesian descendant?
• Studied Bachelor of Pharmacy in Nottingham, UK
• Worked as community pharmacist with Guardian
Pharmacy (last position as Shop Manager /
Pharmacist)
• Opened own pharmacy
• Worked as tutor part time
• Joined MSU as tutor, completed two masters (one
Biomedicine, two Clinical Pharmacy) and now
pursuing PhD
• Deputy Dean (Academic) and now Deputy Dean
(Student Affair)
https://www.pharmacy.gov.my/v2/sites/default/files/document-upload/community-pharmacy-benchmarking-guideline.pdf
Services provided in Medication review and accredited pharmacy services including:
• Home Medication Review (HMR)
community pharmacy • Medication Therapy Adherence Clinic (MTAC)
• Certified Smoking Cessation Service Provider (CSCSP)
• Weight management
• Health screening
• Any other certified pharmaceutical care services – vaccination etc

ESSENTIAL SERVICES OPTIONAL SERVICES

o Screening of prescription(s)
o Dispensing of medicines
o Compounding of medicines (patient specific)
o Counseling and advisory
o Monitoring and screening tests
o Pharmacy management in drug procurement
o Proper documentation
COMMUNITY
PHARMACY in
MALAYSIA
1) Big Corporations
• Guardian
• Watson
• Caring
2) Individual pharmacies
• Big Pharmacy
• Constant
• others
3) In-house
4) Franchise business – dying business model
 Challenges of operating a community pharmacy in
Malaysia
01. Pharmacists knowledge and readiness

• Community Pharmacy is about:

o Pharmacy – pharmacists must be knowledgeable in pharmacy
o Community / Retail / Business – most are not ready e.g. how to choose good location
o Understanding consumer behaviour

• Syllabuses in Malaysia more towards hospital clinical

There are 21 institutions in
Malaysia offering Bachelor of
Pharmacy course

https://www.pharmacy.gov.my/v2/ms/entri/senarai-universiti-tempatan-dibenarkan-menawarkan-kursus-farmasi.html
 Steps to be a community Community Pharmacist
pharmacist in Malaysia

Become registered pharmacist

Apply licence to open a community pharmacy

Study at the recognized university for 4 years

Pass “Peperiksaan Kelayakan untuk Mengamal Farmasi”
Complete training:

4
PRP (Provisionally Registered Pharmacy – 1 year) and
FRP (Fully Registered Pharmacy – 1 year)
 Community Pharmacy attachment by third year
Bachelor of Pharmacy students

https://www.facebook.com/MSUmalaysia.SPH/posts/3456105274423470
 Challenges of operating a community pharmacy in
Malaysia
02. Stiff competition among individual pharmacies and with
big corporations

• Big corporations have more money and resources: In 2015 there are 3,094 community
pharmacists in Malaysia
o Buy in bulk (lowering the cost)
(Ratio 1:2,900)
o Afford to do more marketing and promotion
o Can employ more pharmacists

• Competition among individual pharmacies

o Uneven distribution: Penang and Klang Valley contribute 56% of all the retail
pharmacies in Malaysia
o Location near to each other
o Cost cutting to attract customer
Tan CLH, Gan VBY. Pharmacy Value Added Services: Early Beginnings, Current Implementation, And Challenges From The Malaysian Experience. Indian J Pharm Educ Res. 2016 Aug
Challenges of operating a community pharmacy in
Malaysia
02. Stiff competition among individual pharmacies and with
big corporations

Big corporation has more money and more resources.

Example:
oDrug XYZ (normal cost price RM10, recommended selling price (RSP) RM14)
oBonusing scheme 6+1, 12+3, 24+5, 200+100

Small pharmacy buys 6+1 (6x14/7 = 8.57), RSP = 14, profit = 38%
Big corporation buys 200+100 (6x200/300 = 4.00) RSP = 14, profit 71%
 Challenges of operating a community pharmacy in
Malaysia
03. No dispensing separation (DS)

• Pharmacies have another competition in

form of private clinics
• Doctors can dispense medications
• Some companies even give better
bonusing scheme to doctors

Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research (2015) 45, 394–395 doi: 10.1002/jppr.1162
 No Dispensing Separation

Pharmacists have been fighting for their right to

dispense medication for as long as I can remember.
Other healthcare professionals also hold mixed views
about community pharmacists. A study conducted
among general medical practitioners in 2009 showed
that less than 50% of GPs would consider community
pharmacists' recommendation over prescription
issues.
The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) also
strongly opposed the proposal for dispensing
separation.

Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research (2015) 45, 394–395 doi: 10.1002/jppr.1162
Hassali MA, Awaisu A, Shafie AA, Saeed MS. Professional training and roles of community pharmacists in Malaysia: Views from general medical practitioners. Malaysian Fam Physician. 2009;4(2–3):7
Hassali M, Li V, See O. Pharmacy practice in Malaysia. J Pharm Pract Res. 2014;44:125–8
No Dispensing Separation
Challenges of operating a community pharmacy in
Malaysia
04. Competition with online businesses

• Online stores don’t have to pay for high overhead expenses

• More and more offline stores are joining
 Price in pharmacy
store: RM120

Significantly
cheaper online

86 vs 120 (difference of RM34)

(That’s 29% cheaper)
Challenges of operating a community pharmacy in
Malaysia
05. Disruptions

• Covid-19
o Pharmacies are classified as essential business and are allowed to operate until 11pm
o Challenges remain – lower number of customers
o Pharmacies must be ready to deal with next disruptions (whatever it may be)
o While overheads remain
 Salary
 Bills
 Rent
 Licences
 Depreciation
 Physical health – watch diet, exercise
• Eyes
Parting advice • Backpain
• Fingers – too much typing
during Covid-19
pandemic: Mental health – relax, pray
Maintain health • Depression
• Lonely
• Sadness
 Burnout
Sad

Reach out
and get help

Stress Can’t study

Physically tired
Eyes strained
Back problem
Hand/finger problem.
Depressed
Lonely
Immediate attention needed
Headache

Cough

High Fever

Sore Throat

Chest Pain

Fatigue
Thank you
for your precious time

MSUmalaysia.SPH msu.sph