The National Pharmacists Convention is a national call to action

The National Pharmacists Convention (NPC) has entered a new phase. While previous conventions featured a meeting focused on lectures and CPD points, it has been restructured into a platform for real dialogue, strategy, and policy direction.

This year’s convention, NPC 2025, brought together pharmacists from every sector—community, hospital, industry, academia, and government—to work toward shared goals. This year’s theme was: ‘Pharmacy United: Advancing Healthcare Through Innovation, Collaboration and Resilience,’ and reflects this unified purpose. It was held in Kuala Lumpur and hosted by the Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS).

Matching international standards

NPC 2025 was carefully designed to meet the format and quality of international congresses, including the FIP (International Pharmaceutical Federation) Congress. The organising committee, led by Sujata Tan Zhi Shan, raised the bar for local gatherings by introducing multiple breakout tracks tailored to interest groups and chapters; stakeholder meetings integrated into the main programme; chapter-driven presentations on ongoing projects; cross-sector participation from both public and private practitioners; and a clear push for national-level agenda setting.

The result of this change was evident as it saw over 400 delegates from Malaysia and abroad, including representatives from the UK, US, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia. This turnout surpassed expectations.

A platform for meetings that matter

As alluded, NPC is no longer just about knowledge sharing. It now includes structured time for:

·        Dialogue sessions with MPS chapters and special interest groups

·        Closed-door meetings between pharmacists and decision-makers

·        Stakeholder engagement with policy shapers

·        Industry roundtables and partner forums

·        Real-time feedback loops on issues affecting the profession

The aim is to use this event to consolidate views, craft unified responses, and shape future directions. Whether it’s advancing new legislation or responding to regulatory changes, NPC is now the place for pharmacists to speak with one voice.

A platform to unite sectors, remove divides

Sujata called attention to the outdated division between sectors. He said there is no such thing as clinical versus non-clinical pharmacists. “We are all pharmacists,” he said.

This message echoed through every session. Hospital pharmacists, community pharmacists, those in academia, industry, and even pharmacists now working as researchers, analysts, or policymakers—all are part of the same profession and share the same responsibility to improve health outcomes. NPC 2025 welcomed this broad identity and recognised that meaningful progress depends on cross-sector collaboration.

Policy on the table

Amrahi Buang, President of MPS, used his keynote to make a strong policy-focused call to action. He highlighted a growing crisis i.e., the sharp rise of vape use among Malaysian adolescents. With nearly 15 percent of teenagers now active users and more than 20 percent having experimented with smoking, he warned of a public health disaster in the making.

Amrahi laid out MPS’s position clearly:

·        Total rejection of all forms of nicotine addiction

·        Full support for the Generational End Game (GEG) bill and the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act

·        Immediate reclassification of nicotine liquids and gels under the Poison Act

·        Zero tolerance for industry interference

·        Expansion of pharmacist-led smoking cessation services

·        Protection of youth from being targeted as future consumers

·        Advocacy for vape- and smoke-free public spaces

He stressed that this is not a political issue, but a moral one. He called for pharmacists to take the lead—not only in services, but in policy. From surveillance to education, Amrahi listed five clear roles pharmacists must rise up to:

1. Public education Deliver clear, factual information to schools, parents, and communities

2. Early intervention: Recognise signs of dependence and offer support

3. Policy advocacy: Work with lawmakers to improve regulation and enforcement

4. Community engagement: Build support through partnerships with local leaders

5. Reporting and surveillance: Report illegal sales and unethical practices

His closing call was to trust pharmacists to lead. He said: “We now call upon the business of health, Parliament and the healthcare ecosystem, both public and private, to recognise pharmacists as front line allies in this national level, equip us, find us, trust us to deliver together.”

Support healthcare reform

Alice Lau Kiong Yien, Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat and herself a trained pharmacist, officiated the launch. She highlighted the policy momentum seen at regional and national levels. Malaysia recently joined other ASEAN countries in endorsing the ASEAN Declaration on Drug Security and Self-Reliance (ADS-SSR), a framework aimed at improving access to quality medicine and reducing dependence on external supply chains.

Domestically, the government has launched a pricing transparency reform known as KHU, now fully in effect. This reform mandates all private healthcare facilities to publish their price lists, ensuring that patients are no longer left in the dark.

According to Lau, pharmacists are at the centre of these reforms. Pharmacists’ role has evolved beyond dispensing. They now connect policy to practice and ensure medicine remains accessible, affordable, and ethically managed. She described NPC as the “heartbeat” of Malaysia’s pharmacy profession and urged delegates to use it as a place not only to learn, but to connect, build partnerships, and shape the next steps for the profession.

NPC: A Place to speak up and speak together

One of the key new features this year was the expanded participation of MPS chapters.

Hospital pharmacy, informatics, academia, medical pharmacy, and others were given dedicated slots to present current work and challenges. These breakout sessions created space for detailed discussion on key issues, something that is often missing in large-format conferences.

These sessions helped answer common criticism that MPS lacks transparency or coordination. As such, this year’s congress gave chapters the chance to step forward, explain their work, and invite broader involvement. This model supports the larger goal of building a strong, coordinated profession where all pharmacists have a voice.

Looking ahead

NPC 2025 also launched an important forward-looking initiative: the Pharmacy 2030 study.

This study asks an important question: “What should the role of pharmacists look like in five years?” It seeks to collect input from all sectors to understand whether the current roles of pharmacists remain relevant. It also seeks to know what new responsibilities the profession should take on, and what support and reforms are needed to get there.

The study reflects a growing recognition that pharmacists must not only adapt to change but lead it. And the best way to do that is with a shared vision. All delegates were invited to contribute.

Keeping up the good work

NPC 2025 has made clear that the time for passive attendance is over. The profession now needs active participation from all stakeholders. What happens at the congress should continue beyond it—in chapter meetings, in policy committees, and in everyday practice. The ultimate goal is to achieve a united profession that helps shape the future of healthcare in Malaysia.