Local students encouraged to study pharmacy

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Dr Saravanan Muniyandy

MIRI: Local students with a strong enthusiasm for the medical profession are encouraged to pursue a degree in pharmacy.

Monash University Sunway campus Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Studies senior lecturer Dr Saravanan Muniyandy said at present there are no students from Sarawak taking the university’s Bachelor of Pharmacy programme.

“Our objective is to produce high quality pharmacists, where the profession is highly in demand in Malaysia,” he said in an interview yesterday.

He said the university is now targeting Sarawak as the number of qualified pharmacists here is low.

Every year, he said the intake is limited to 50 students and there are many applicants from Peninsular Malaysia as well as a few international students.

Dr Saravanan added that the job of a pharmacist today is not only dispensing medicine but also giving consultations to patients; as well as to ensure they follow the appropriate regiment of doses.

The Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) programme at Monash University Sunway Campus is closely related to the
faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Studies located at Monash University’s Parkville campus in Melbourne, Australia.

As a recognised degree in both Malaysia and Australia, students can pursue their career as a pharmacist either in Malaysia or Australia.

Monash University is ranked in the top 50 universities in the world.

Students also opt to study the Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Medicine (MBBS) at Monash as the course is identical to the one in Monash University Australia.