Discussion & Dialogue on Recent Pharmacy-related Issues

OFFICIAL VISIT OF MALAYSIAN PHARMACY STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (MYPSA) TO THE OFFICE OF SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PHARMACY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, DATO EISAH A. RAHMAN & SENIOR OFFICERS OF PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT (PSD), LEMBAGA FARMASI MALAYSIA (LFM) & NATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL CONTROL BUREAU

Date: 9th February 2012

Venue: Dewan Serai Wangi, Lembaga Farmasi Malaysia

For Members of Malaysian Pharmacy Students Association (MyPSA) only

MyPSA
y Official MyPSA Website (still under updates)  http://www.mypsa-mps.org y MyPSA Facebook Group constant updates

regarding MyPSA


http://www.facebook.com/groups/MyPSA

y MyPSA Fan Page  http://www.facebook.com/MyPSApage

Discussion & Dialogue on Recent Pharmacy-related Issues

OFFICIAL VISIT OF MALAYSIAN PHARMACY STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (MYPSA) TO THE OFFICE OF SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PHARMACY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, DATO EISAH A. RAHMAN & SENIOR OFFICERS OF PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT (PSD), LEMBAGA FARMASI MALAYSIA (LFM) & NATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL CONTROL BUREAU

Date: 9th February 2012

Venue: Dewan Serai Wangi, Lembaga Farmasi Malaysia

Participant Pharmaceutical Services Department

y Yg.Bhg.Dato' Eisah

A.Rahman


Senior Director of Pharmaceutical Services Department

y En.Mohd.Hatta bin Ahmad  Director of Pharmacy Enforcement y Dr. Tajuddin bin Akasah  Acting-Director of National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau y Dr.Nour Hanah Othman  Deputy Director, Policy & Pharmacy Management

y En.Azman bin Yahya  Deputy Director, Pharmacy Board cum Secretary of Pharmacy Board y Pn. Abida Haq S.M. Haq  Deputy Director, Clinical & Technical Pharmacy y Pn.Salwati Abd.Kadir  Secretariat of Pharmacy Board, Pharmacy Practice & Development y Pn.Hani bt.Abdullah  Secretariat of Pharmacy Board, Pharmacy Practice & Development

Participant (MyPSA)
y All MyPSA Executive Committee 2011/2012 y Representative from MyPSA Executive Committee

2010/2011 y President/Representative from IPTA/IPTS

     

Universiti Malaya Universiti Sains Malaysia Masterskill University College of Health Sciences Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences Monash University (Sunway Campus) Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM)

Tentative
y 3.00 pm  Opening remarks by Chairperson of the meeting  Introduction of all participants from PSD, MyPSA and all IPTA/IPTS Presidents & Representatives y 3.15 pm  Speech & Perutusan from Yg Bhg Dato Eisah A. Rahman y 4.00 pm  Presentation about MyPSA by Fakarul Radzi y 4.15 pm  Explanation of issues brought by MyPSA to PSD, Pharmacy Board & BPFK by: Dato Eisah A. Rahman En. Mohd Hatta bin Ahmad Dr. Nour Hanah Othman Dr. Tajuddin bin Akasah En Azman bin Yahya Pn. Abida Haq S.M. Haq y 5.00 pm  End of dialogue session  Souvenir giving ceremony  Photography Session  Tea break

Speech & Perutusan

FROM DATO EISAH A. RAHMAN SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES, MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA

Speech & Perutusan

y Up until 31st January 2012 9047 pharmacists registered

with Pharmacy Board



60% in public sector

y Pharmacy Board registered 908 companies y 17 IPT allowed to offer bachelor of pharmacy 10 with

full accreditation y PSD through Pharmacy Board still receives application from IPTS wanting to offer bachelor of pharmacy


High demand from students to enter pharmacy due to attractive career path However, PSD is strict in terms of accreditation & evaluation

Speech & Perutusan

y In the process of formulating a new Pharmacy Act
   

Hope to be tabled at Parliament on March 2012 To strengthen & combine the existing acts (e.g. Poison Acts, Pharmacist Registration Acts, Drug Sales Act, etc.) Increase effectiveness, integrity & law enforcement Could be used to avoid pharmacists from involving in misconduct & irresponsible activities

y Pharmacy Board (PB) secretariat listing of Pembantu

Pegawai Farmasi (PPF)

  

Originally they fall under allied health, but PPF choose to be under PB PB will be responsible for monitoring & accreditation of IPT offering Diploma of Pharmacy 33 IPT offering Diploma of Pharmacy 6 with full accreditation

Speech & Perutusan

y Change of compulsory service from 1+3 to 1+1  Approved by Minister on September 2011 announced in mainstream media y PRP & FRP training in private sector under discussion in

terms of implementation
 

Positive response However, commitment in the 1st year is still low due to some issues need to be considered

y Training in community pharmacy, private hospitals,

pharmaceutical industry & IPTA/IPTS



Starting next year, the number of PRP to be accepted by private hospitals will be encouraging

y Liberalization of PRP training to be completed by July 2012  To accrediting community pharmacy for PRP training y Suggestion to change from Lembaga Farmasi Malaysia to

Majlis Farmasi Malaysia

Speech & Perutusan

y Received emails from graduated students regarding

placement
    

Regret that this problem should arise Happened not just to pharmacy, but also to medical students Problem with the new system of public service Need to hold the placement by Public Service Department Personal opinion, should proceed with placement, the other issues (e.g. salary) could be settled on the way

Speech & Perutusan

y With 17 local IPTA/IPTS & other universities abroad,

all are producing almost 1000 new pharmacist each year

 

 

Government need to create 1000 new posts every year On the start of compulsory services, estimated 30% of pharmacists will leave government sector Turns out less than 10% is leaving each year Number of pharmacists in government sector increases each year to reach bottleneck situation Reason with the flexibility given to government pharmacists, they are happy to remain in public service lead to less pharmacists leaving public sector

Speech & Perutusan

y 2011 is a busy year with new developments &

achievements for pharmacy services y 2012 proceed with planning & implementation of 1Care for 1Malaysia y Fighting for dispensing separation
   

Tightly gripped by doctors, especially GPs Reluctant to let only pharmacists do the dispensing Challenge is taken by all related parties e.g. MPS Government & JPA are implementing many initiatives that involves pharmacists

Speech & Perutusan

y PSD were asked to review the proposal of outsourcing of

dispensing through privatization of patient services

 

Still under review A lot of options to be considered

y GTP & EPP (especially EPP 3) involved pharmacy sector

directly


Government support & encourage the development of pharmaceutical sector especially generic drugs For local or international supply Unless graduates choose to sit back home, the job opportunities is always available

y Pharmacy students career



Explanation of issues brought by MyPSA

BY: DATO EISAH A. RAHMAN EN. MOHD HATTA BIN AHMAD DR. NOUR HANAH OTHMAN DR. TAJUDDIN BIN AKASAH EN AZMAN BIN YAHYA PN. ABIDA HAQ S.M. HAQ

Change of Compulsory Service from 1+3 to 1+1

y Starting 15 Sept 2012 upon approval of Cabinets
  

Pharmacy graduates will undergo 1 year PRP training & 1 year FRP service Both 2 years at the same place either in public or private sector To balance actual national needs of pharmacists (in both public & private institution)

y If graduates choose to be in private sector, upon completion of 1+1, can

choose to leave or stay y 1+1 in government sector upon appointment by SPA y Re-appointment by SPA will require candidates to be re-interviewed y JPA Scholarship Holder
 

Still bonded to government for 6 years If choose to leave public sector, it is upon personal effort to discuss with JPA Not bonded like in JPA Scholarship Holder Up to candidate to choose which sector after 1+1

y MARA Loan
 

Too many pharmacists in Malaysia?

y 2012 more than 9000 registered pharmacists in y y y

Malaysia Malaysia havent reach 1:2000 (1 pharmacists to 2000 citizens) as WHO Guidelines In 2012, the ratio is 1:2865 By 2016, Malaysia would achieve WHO Guidelines based on number of pharmacy graduates produced each year Figure above includes public & private sector

Abolishment of Critical Allowances (CA)

y CA is not a permanent allowance y Started given by government in 2006 previously not

given y CA offered to few professions (e.g. medical, dentistry, pharmacy and others) which is considered critical
 

Based on criteria set up by JPA Doesnt depends on the availability of compulsory services in the professions

y However, abolishment of CA will need review on the

original purpose of introducing CA into the profession y Pharmacists worth of CA appreciate pharmacists having shifts, ready at clinic, 24 hours services, including managing methadone therapy every day include public holiday

PRP Placement Based on Academic Results

y PRP is appointed into public service after interview

by SPA y PRP placement is done depending on the needs of the service in public sector y Does not depends on academic results only
 

A lot of other criteria being looked upon interview by SPA & Pharmacy board Includes general knowledge, attire, etc.

y Academic results one of the criteria, but its not solely

on that


Seeking not only high academic public officers, but also in terms of integrity & other valuable qualities for an officer

Limitation of A License Holder if Clinical Placement is Limited

y No y Current law states A license could be given to any registered

pharmacists


Both PRP & FRP are considered registered pharmacists

y A license to a PRP is a considered suggestion  Liberalization of PRP training PSD need to consider incentive for the private sector hiring PRP into their facility  If PRP cannot execute a pharmacist with A license job thus helping out the trainer pharmacists, it might burden the trainer  Not yet a policy of PSD, but PSD will look into this option y Discussion & decision on this will be made by PSD/LFM y Current requirement (pre-requisite) for PRP to receive A

license-need to have appraisal during PRP & pass forensic exams y Under new act, A license will be abolished and changed into Practice Certificate y Still under transition process.

Change of Forensic Exam to Licensing Exam

y Licensing exam is employed in UK, Taiwan, Australia, etc. y Doesnt limit just to forensic papers, but also into pharmacy

practice and other aspects y Malaysia is yet to go to licensing exams y Will be employed when:
 

No specific universities are recognized by LFM With global & liberalized world, students might went to any universities, and need to sit for licensing exams before allowed to practice

y However, the policy for pharmacy students need to e viewed

together with medical & dentistry students

 

The suggestion have been tabled to the Cabinets, but due to reasons, its not passed Hard to pass only for pharmacy students and not to other healthcare students

Placement of PRP into Private Sector

y Liberalization plan of PRP training expected to

commence on July 2012 (70% in Government facility, 30% in Private facility) y Options for private sector:


Patient facing sector

Option 1: 52 weeks in Community Pharmacy Option 2: 52 weeks in Private Hospital (allowed to have 12 weeks of clinical attachment at government hospital)

Non-patient facing sector

Option 3: 52 weeks in Pharmaceutical Industry/GMP Option 4: 52 weeks in IPTA for R&D works (allowed to have 12 weeks of clinical attachment at government hospital)

Placement of PRP into Private Sector

y For 1st year of implementation, only 68 placement

available in private sector



In private hospital & pharmaceutical industry

y In private PRP are paid & considered as private

institution staffs
  

Starting salary will be similar to government basic pay Plus 12% EPF scheme and other emoluments & incentives by institution Without critical allowance private sector didnt have such system

y As pre-requisite for FRP registration y Still under pre-implementation stage y Interview will be done by staffs of the private sector, not

SPA

SBPA Increase salary of PRP or reduced to allowances?

y PRP will receive increase of payment according to

UF 1-1 level apart from receiving permanent allowance & CA y With the new system, maybe small increment of salary, around few hundreds y Not changed to allowance y Worth to note, salary increment in government is not as lucrative as in private sector

Placement of PRP based on IPTA/IPTS

y No y Liberalization plan 70% in government while 30%

in private sector y JPA Scholarship holder will be public servant with placement in government sector y Next year private sector readiness for PRP placement will increase


Community pharmacy will be accredited & benchmarked for PRP training Around 500 placement commitment by community pharmacy

Students from Diploma of Pharmacy are not allowed for credit transfer
y Government policy y Students from diploma who ventured into

pharmacy/medical/dentistry field will not be allowed to transfer credit y Critical courses

Moratorium of schools of pharmacy

y No y Moratorium will not happen to the current

school/faculty of pharmacy

Standardization of curriculum for pharmacist training

y Training of PRP is
y 9 modules:
     

done using PRP Log Book as instructed by LFM y Must achieve no less than 60% at each section y Soft skill components will be added into the current 9 modules

  

Ward Pharmacy Practice Out-Patient Pharmacy Services In-Patient Pharmacy Services Clinical Pharmacokinetics Services Oncology Pharmacy Services Parenteral Nutrition/Intravenous Additive Services Drug and Poison Information Services Manufacturing and repacking Inventory Control and Management

Current status of Dispensing Separation

y Dispensing separation have been practiced in all

MOH facilities, in-patient & out-patient in all private hospitals y Only GPs still dispense medications to their patients:
  

Charge of their consultation fees is quite low (some until RM5) Selling & dispensing drugs to patient give profits Need to protect their source of income

y 1Care for 1Malaysia dispensing separation &

professional fees for GPs y Patient from GPs are allowed to just take prescription from GPs & refer to pharmacy for drugs

Current status of Dispensing Separation

y Steps taken to get ready for dispensing separation:  Geo-mapping of pharmacies in Malaysia  Benchmarking & credentialing of community pharmacy y Distribution of pharmacies compared to clinics &

hospital is known


Patient know where to get the drugs if dispensing separation started

y Quality of service of pharmacies is standardized  Pharmacists also could provide value-added services to their pharmacy  More than just dispensing e.g. good PR & personal touch patient will be attracted to pharmacy for drug advices

Current status of Dispensing Separation

y Efforts to get ready for dispensing separation:  Mechanisms for controlling price of drugs is being formulated  Compulsory services (1+1) in community pharmacy y New pharmacy act will classify medications/drugs

into 3 classification:
  

Prescription Medications Only Pharmacists Products Only General Sales Product

Implication of 1Care on Pharmacists & Community

y Implementation of 1Care is to give better healthcare

services to Malaysians
 

Integrate the public & private healthcare sector Less fortunate community will have better access to private healthcare

y Overcome the weakness in current system  System adapted since Merdeka 55 years y Ensure Malaysians will get quality treatment even

the cost for healthcare increases y Still under planning and discussion

Implication of 1Care on Pharmacists & Community

y Pharmacists will play important role as healthcare

professionals y More focus towards Quality of Care & Optimization of Resources

Methadone Therapy by Community Pharmacy

y Approval from Perbendaharaan obtained allows

the outsourcing of the dispensing of methadone to community pharmacy y Pharmacies will be paid dispensing fees by government each time methadone is dispensed to a patient referred by government facility
 

For stable patient Ease the patient by allowing therapy outside working hours

y Pioneer project in Klang Valley this year  Community pharmacists have been trained for this

Future Prospects & Career for Pharmacists

y Projected needs for pharmacists in private sector

until 2020 increases for private community pharmacy & pharmaceutical industries y Based on a dialogue with stakeholders e.g. MPS/PhARMA/MOPI on 31st January 2012 y Career path for pharmacists is wide spread y Very little chance for unemployment

Community doesnt fully recognize pharmacists as healthcare professionals

y Review our self as a profession
  

Should involve more in patient counseling Compare to GP should have more personal touch with patients Personal touch important to the community At times, assistant of pharmacists is more appreciated than pharmacists Pharmacists not available in stores after 5 pm patient seeking pharmacists after working hours Introduction of shifts in community pharmacy Become basis for accreditation of community pharmacy

y Role of pharmacists is still low

 

y Liberalization of pharmacy will change the situation



y Benchmarking pharmacies not looking like retail store



y Introduce new services into pharmacy e.g. Government

doing Home Medication Review

Foreign students less interested doing attachment in Malaysia

y Foreign undergraduate students doing attachment at

PSD still none y However, postgraduates/working pharmacists from developing countries e.g. Mongolia, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, North Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines & other parts of the world come for training under WHO y PSD as WHO collaborative center for pharmaceutical y Accept students/people from other regulatory bodies

PSD/LFM Support for Future MyPSA/Students Projects

y PSD/LFM would be glad and committed to work

together with MyPSA from time to time y Support will be available from HQ in PJ or from state level


Includes campaign material & necessary supports

y MyPSA should play & expand its role as a national

body for pharmacy students



As a channel to bridge pharmacy students with PSD/LFM

y Hope the cooperation will continue further

Take Home Message

WHATEVER YOU DO, YOU DO IT EXCELLENT. WHEN YOU DO EXCELLENTLY, FULLHEARTEDLY, PEOPLE WILL LOOK (AND RESPECT) AT YOU -DR. TAJUDDIN BIN AKASAH ACTING DIRECTOR, NPCB

Souvenir from MyPSA to PSD

Executive Committees

All Participants

(Last Row From Left) Hafiz [PO, USM], Hanif [UM] (Second Row From Left) Nazurah [UiTM], Sue Yen [Monash], Aisyah [UiTM], Faridah [SEO, UiTM], Eunice [Sec 2, Monash], Amirah [Sec Gen, USM], Janet [EO, AIMST], Mae Ching [PEO, UM], Atiqah [VP, IIUM], Fakarul [President, USM], Irfan [Treasurer, UM], Jason [VP PR, AIMST], Fikkiruddin [UiTM], Shahiran [CUCMS], Afif [IIUM], Thana Prakash [Masterskill], Hong Huei [USM], Syahidan [USM] (First Row From Left) Pn. Abida Haq S.M. Haq, Dr. Nour Hanah Othman, Dato Eisah A. Rahman, En. Hatta bin Ahmad, Dr. Tajuddin bin Akasah, En. Azman bin Yahya, Puan Hani Abdullah

Thank You
PREPARED BY: MOHD FAKARUL RADZI BIN MOHAMED MUSTAFA PRESIDENT MALAYSIAN PHARMACY STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (MYPSA) DATE: 14/02/2012

MYPSA 2012