Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib hopes to see more Sabahans employed as pharmacists in view of only 23 per cent currently serving government hospitals and clinics in the State being Sabah-borns.
Speaking at the 36th Sabah State Pharmacy Conference at Le Meridien from Aug. 1-3, James said many pharmacies across Kota Kinabalu and other districts are also operated by non-Sabahans.
To address this, James advocated for a policy requiring at least 70 per cent of community pharmacies to be owned by Sabahans.
He said the proposal is not merely an economic measure, but a matter of health sovereignty for the State in view of growing concerns about lack of local representation in critical healthcare services.
Deputy Health (Pharmacy) Director Dr Liau Siow Yen represented the Minister at the official opening.
He said one way to address the problem is to set up a School of Pharmacy at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) increase investment in local talent development as well as provide more scholarships for Sabahans to pursue pharmacy studies.
He noted the important role pharmacists play as vital guardians of medication management and key players in the healthcare system.
He also spoke about the importance of ensuring continuous medicine supply, quality assurance of pharmaceuticals and primary care provision.
James also advocated for stronger collaboration between public and private sector pharmacists in follow-up therapy, health screening and patient education, describing such partnerships as essential for improving treatment outcomes and medication adherence.
The three-day conference, organised jointly by the Sabah Pharmaceutical Society and Sabah State Health Ministry’s Pharmacy Services Division, brought together pharmacists from across Malaysia under the theme “Think Health, Think Pharmacist”.
The event featured sessions on artificial intelligence applications in healthcare, neuro-linguistic programming, military pharmacy experiences and human resources workshops.
Delegates from Labuan, Pahang and Terengganu joined local pharmacists for the comprehensive programme.
The conference also included community outreach activities, with pharmacists conducting home medication reviews at Holy Family Residence in Papar, demonstrating the profession’s expanding role in direct patient care and community service.
The event concluded with a healthcare exhibition showcasing industry innovations and fostering collaboration between practitioners and stakeholders.
