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Kota Kinabalu: The introduction innovative services by public hospitals in Sabah in delivering medication significantly improved, said Sabah Health Director Datuk Dr Asits Sanna.

He said the innovative services such as the Medication Therapy Adherence Clinic (MTAC), Home Medication Review, Drive-Through Pharmacy for monthly repeat prescriptions, and Medicines by post, as well as the Locker 4U initiative, had helped to improve delivery of medicines to the patients.

Dr Arsits said these services ensured better patient compliance, reduced wastage and alleviated congestion at public hospitals, allowing more urgent cases to receive the attention they need.

He was speaking at the 35th Sabah State Pharmacy Conference, themed “Innovating Today for Tomorrow’s Healthcare: Shaping the Future of Pharmacy,” which took place from Aug 23 – 25 at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). 

Dr Arsits represented Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib in officiating the event organised by the Sabah Health Department’s Pharmacy Division together with the Sabah Pharmaceutical Society as well as UMS.

Speaking to 173 pharmacists from Sabah, Sarawak, and WP Labuan, Dr Asits emphasized the critical role pharmacists play in various aspects of healthcare, including managing a patient’s primary healthcare, ensuring the safe distribution and use of medications, and enforcing the authenticity of medicine supplies in the market.

He also highlighted the importance of innovation in advancing the pharmacy profession, encouraging pharmacists to continually strive to make a positive impact on the public. 

Dr Asits further emphasised the vital role pharmacists play in ensuring the proper storage of medicines, particularly in maintaining correct temperature controls. 

He expressed optimism that the introduction of automated inventory system machines in public hospitals would help reduce human error in the inventory list.

Dr Arsits also highlighted the increasingly accessible and innovative services provided by private community pharmacies, where the public can now undergo various health screenings, such as skin, eye and bone density checks. 

Additionally, specialised pharmacists are offering valuable services, such as dietary recommendations for oncology patients, smoking cessation programmes, and safe disposal of medications.

In light of these developments, he hoped the 70 per cent of community pharmacies in Sabah would eventually be owned by Sabahans, ensuring local ownership and furthering the progress of the pharmacy profession within the state.

Dr Asits acknowledged the presence of an enforcement unit in Sabah, comprising pharmacists dedicated to ensuring that medicines and supplements available on the market are authentic and free from adulterated substances. 

He stressed the critical role these enforcers play in protecting public health.

Dr Arsits also highlighted the growing influence of social media platforms like TikTok in the marketplace and that he urged the TikTok merchants be properly educated on providing accurate information to the public and adhering to advertising laws, especially when promoting products related to medicines. 

Dr Asits also hoped that the rise of illegal online medicine sales could be curbed through the efforts of the Pharmacy Enforcement Unit, underscoring the importance of this for public health.

He encouraged pharmacists to remain committed to delivering high-quality healthcare services, whether in public institutions or private pharmacy facilities, ensuring that patients continue to receive the best care possible.