Community or retail pharmacy is the friendly neighbourhood pharmacy that you often visit to get quick over-the-counter medicine, health supplements or personal care products.
Community pharmacists are responsible for ensuring that you receive a safe and correct supply of medicines. They have the most updated knowledge about health and medicines and are easily accessible by the public.
Community pharmacists provide free consultations on health matters and counselling on medicines. Apart from dispensing medicines prescribed to you by a doctor, they can also recommend over-the-counter medicines for minor health problems and provide relevant information on the medicines that you are taking to ensure what you’re taking is safe and effective.
Apart from the scheduled intake of medicines, they will advise you on the side effects and potential drug or food interactions of medicines, as well as how to store and dispose of your unwanted medicines.
Did you know that community pharmacists can also help you to dispose of unused or expired medicines? Like all products, medicines have their expiry dates but they should never be discarded as trash or poured down the sink as this will cause environmental pollution.
One other important role of community pharmacists is to provide you with health advice and health education on disease prevention such as weight reduction, smoking cessation, and healthy lifestyle. They also help raise awareness and share important information on the latest health issues within the local community.
Community pharmacists can also organise public health campaigns, health screenings, blood donations and health talks to promote health and well-being of the community.
Community pharmacists need to have excellent communication and people management skills in addition to professional knowledge and competencies. They should also have strong business acumen as they work in a commercial setting.
Most importantly, a community pharmacist cares for the community he or she operates in and is always looking into ways to work hand-in-hand with the public and other healthcare professionals to improve the well-being of the community.
At SEGi, we groom our pharmacy students with hands-on scientific, clinical and professional knowledge, with an established emphasis on the development of their skills and competencies.
Various teaching and learning activities have been put in place to stimulate students’ learning interests and engagement, including hands-on learning, learning in simulated environments and experiential placements in community and hospital pharmacy and pharmaceutical drug companies.
There are also research opportunities where one whole semester is dedicated to research work. In addition, SEGi has provided opportunities for students to take on various student enrichment programmes and activities to enhance other soft skills such as leadership and entrepreneurship skills to prepare students who may venture into the community pharmacy business.
As a pharmacy student at SEGi, you will be guided by a team of experienced academic staff, most of them with past working experience in different areas of pharmacy. You will be assured of an all-rounded learning experience with the commitment and dedication of the academic team; and well-equipped laboratories and facilities.
SEGi’s Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) degree is fully accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency and the Pharmacy Board of Malaysia. Our graduates are highly commended and have gained 100% employability thanks to the comprehensive training received through the course of their four-year study.
Speak to our counsellors today to learn more about the programme and what the Faculty of Pharmacy has to offer you. Log on to www.segi.edu.my for details.