well...attrition rate....there are many reasons why people leave a programme....the 12 who left.....they all failed?....

Did they fail or quit?

My uni made some new implementations to make it harder to pass. The academic papers are not the tough ones but all the practical examinations are quite intense! (preparing sterile formulations, prescription checking etc.)
The most discouraging part is that we go through all the stress and hard work only to be spat on by doctors and the public

We had it like this too, but now they changed it to 1 repeat instead of 3 haha.
did you have any hospital experience? Planning to go for a hospital attachment before I fly off to Caridff

Just on that matter, can you or anyone else elaborate on how the general public and healthcare professionals in Malaysia view pharmacists? Do they view us as respected professionals or just another glorified drug salesperson? I'm likely to move back to Malaysia soon and was just curious...

Hey my first post in LOWYAT >.<
Have several questions here.
How do pharmacists get into industry actually?
I do know that to work as clinical pharmacists you will need to complete pre-reg in hospitals.Fresh graduate now can even complete pre-reg in retail if they decide to become community pharmacists.
How about industrial pharmacists then?

I am a JPA bound students so i am under obligation to work under government hospital for 6 years.However i am intersted in becoming industrial pharmacists since i like research works...

Besides , does futher studying to Master / Doctorate help to become industrial pharmacists?Since i am intersted in R & D.
If it is , which country will be the best to pursue master / doctorate ?I am studying in IMU for local 4 years programme.The US system works differently from us so we cannot go there to pursue master / doctorate ?

As far as i concern , The IMU local programme is recognized nowhere but malaysia.Does it mean i can only pursue master / doctorate in Malaysia , for example in USM ?

Even it seems for me too early to ask these questions but i am just curious because i do not really like working as communty pharmacists *sigh*

Hopefully anyone can shed some light for me.Thank you ^.^

I'm not sure how strong the pharmaceutical industry is in Malaysia, especially in terms of research. Research in Malaysia is quite weak in general... not very impactful to say the least. Most pharmacists (with just a Bachelor's) working in industry end up in sales promotion (the job where everyone sees you as satan) pushing drugs/health food products to doctors and other pharmacists. Some probably end up in drug information services, taking phone calls from patients/other doctors and pharmacists.

If you really want to do research, I'd advise you to get a postgraduate degree in a relevant field(a PhD is good) to expose yourself to the scientific method, get some experience and knowledge. With a postgraduate degree, you will be more desirable to your future employers. If you can do your postgrad in a country well-known for impactful research like UK or AUS or SG, it would be better. Otherwise, I suppose a good local government university.

You could even consider working in academia (in university) or hospitals (clinical research only). If you like research...industry might not be a good place to look at in Malaysia but universities or research institutes are pretty decent. You can even take it a step further and work overseas first.

So even degree of IMU 4 years local programme is only recognized in Malaysia i can still pursue postgraduate study in foreign countries , example  NUS?

I thought there will be R&D department in industry?No?Don't they need pharmacists do work on project developing drugs?(Of course the pharmacists completing postgraduate study so they can be involved in reseach of drugs)

I have not entered IMU BTW.I am currently waiting for UPU results.I applied courses such as biomedical science and biochemistry for IPTA.All I know about biochemists is that they normally work in industry to develop drugs but postgraduate study is required (I am interested in these).
However job prospect for these degree seems bleak in Malaysia.I have read enough post of biomedical science graduates end up promoting drugs or work in irrelevant field.

So I opt to pharmacy because i think it provides more choices.If I realize pusuing master / doctorate is not my cup of tea during my degree then i can still work in government hospital because of the JPA bond.

My cousin is now a pharmacist in a government clinic.She graduated nearly 5 years ago and told me this field is saturated.I am wondering will it be advantageous to grab a seat in hospital to complete pre-reg if I am under JPA bond?

BTW @Farmer_C judging from you earlier posts u have completed your postgraduate studies in Australia?Is it under scholarship or self-paid?

THANKS FOR YOUR REPLIES.

Nothing is wrong with promoting drugs actually.They can always earn big bucks if they are good and achieve sales target , but i just think i will not like to venture in this.I am quite a 'science' person haha.
I am not good at persuading people into buying products because i have no interest in business *haiz*

Are you working now?

What prompted you into pharmacy anyway?

When I hear your story, it reminds me of myself a bit. I completed my BPharm in 2011 @ Monash, AU. However, in my 3rd year of study I realised that I loved pharmacology more than the practice of pharmacy. In my final year when I started working part time in a pharmacy (and after multiple work placements) I realise the pharmacy industry in Melbourne has gone to sh*ts.

This further compounded my desire to pursue a PhD. The road was tough however, I had to go through a research honours degree first and I have to score really well not just to win a scholarship, but even to qualify to do a PhD. I got lucky and managed to secure a scholarship from the state government of Victoria. I'm in my 3rd year now. I did not do my pharmacy internship after I graduated from BPharm, but you can choose to if you want before pursuing a Masters/PhD. 

Indeed, big pharmaceutical companies (in EU, US, JP mainly) perform R&D and unlike in academia, you are very well paid and funding is often not an issue. The only trouble is the world is extra critical of your research cause you are part of a profit-first organisation. Assuming you will do a PhD next time, just remember - no industry R&D in Malaysia so you got to think hard about your future. Are you going to migrate? Are you going to do academia in Malaysia? Are you going to do clinical research in hospital?

Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals but in terms of drug R&D in the LAB, pharmacists are useless. The only role pharmacists have in research is in the clinical trials stage and even then, your role is quite limited. You will never be 'leading' a research project, always a follower. If you want a leadership role in research, you need either a PhD (to do scientific labwork or clinical research in combination with your BPharm) or a medical degree (only for clinical research).

At the end of the day, you got to strike a balance. Money first or passion first? Do a 4 year BPharm just to be a salesperson (but earn good money) or sacrifice extra 3-4 years to chase your passion and open many more (both research or non-research related) doors? Neither is wrong, just what tickles your fancy. But hey, if one day you get tired of research, like you said, you can always fall back on a noble profession in pharmacy - good to have options in life. You can even do research and be a pharmacist part-time too if you wanted.

Hi. I'm just wondering why most (or all) universities do not accept those who was graduated with CGPA less than 2.5 into pharmacy-related postgraduate programs.
Why they do not deserve a chance for further studies?

Hi, I have a few questions regrading the environment of pharmacist in the hospital.
Can someone enlighten me on some information of how a pharmacist who work in hospital setting is like?
What are the prospects that are there for a person who would like to continue working as a pharmacist in the hospital?
Do we have a choice to stay in the hospital to work after our pre-reg?
I read somewhere, there are "specialists" posts for pharmacist in hospital setting, something like majoring in a specialize field like cancer or something, is there such thing in Malaysia? I am not sure how far it's true about this statement.

Thanks in advance, really appreciate your comments, I am still in the midst of deciding on my course of study for tertiary edu.

For me the best uni for pharmacy is UCSI, want know more you can visit their website http://www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my/

Hi, I did. Came through some statements like being specialised pharmacist dont really have much financial advantage, do they normally do it part time or full time when acquiring these qualifications?
About my ques regarding, after pre-reg in a government hospital, it is that you will be given an option to stay or leave? Or, they will only accommodate you for that particular one year?
For the ques for future prospects as pharmacist in the hospital, I meant it in a way, will you be doing the same thing as the same post along the years working?
I also came through the thread, how do you become a clinical pharmacist, since you mentioned before that working in hospital as pharmacist doesn't make you one? And, in this term, what does it mean by bein a clinical pharmacist, what's the difference?
Since there are a few JPA scholars here, I have a ques regarding, let's say you are bonded with the government for a number of years, does that give you an edge to securing a job or pre-reg opportunity with the government in the hospital?
Are there scholarships available for postgraduate studies that are closely related to the field of pharmacy and/or research out there, locally or overseas?

Sorry for so many questions, hope that any of you guys can answer them. Thank you so much, this thread is very helpful.

Ya, I agree on the boss may rotate a pharmacist to the clinical unit without one's say, however, usually an individual has to demonstrate a certain degree on clinical knowledge before being appointed to become a clinical pharmacist.

Just to make a correction, a clinical pharmacist in a government hospital setting is required to carry out bedside dispensing where you carry the discharged medications to the ward and dispense to the patient directly, so, you will still be involved in tons of drug dispensing, and there are quite a few of other stuff to take care of, for examples, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for your particular ward (some hospitals may have a TDM pharmacist who manages all TDM cases), drug and device counselling, ward checks (checking on floorstocks) etc. 

anyone has any past year Q on forensic exam? zstan?

Hey guys just a quick question here regarding pharmacist registration in Malaysia. Do registered pharmacists from Australia/NZ need pre reg training in Malaysia to get the license? Or they just have to pass the registration exam without undergoing intern training again? Many thanks!

awesome guys million thanks!
anyone recently sat the exam? and how did you guys prepare for it? A friend of mine who is a registered pharmacist in Australia is thinking of relocating back to Malaysia...and now I am contemplating getting registered back home as well!

@polaris91

http://www.talentcorp.com.my/our-work/init...xpert-programme