Preparing pharmacists for a changing healthcare landscape

At Taylor’s University, the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) combines experiential learning with transferable skills, preparing graduates for diverse careers across healthcare, research and the pharmaceutical industry.

WHAT comes to mind when you think of a pharmacist? For many, it is someone behind a counter dispensing medicine.

But for Ng Kar Weng, his career tells a different story. One that spans hospital wards, pharmaceutical boardrooms and research laboratories across three continents.

His journey reflects how much the profession has changed beyond community pharmacy and hospital practice.

Today, pharmacists contribute across specialised clinical services and the pharmaceutical industry, including medical affairs, regulatory affairs, market access, research and digital healthcare.

Taylor’s University's Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) programme, under the School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, prepares students for this evolving profession, pairing technical competencies with transferable skills.

Classroom knowledge with professional practice

Following his grandfather’s battle with colorectal cancer, Ng’s curiosity about how medicines work in the body drew him to pharmacy.

He chose Taylor's University for its emphasis on experiential learning and broad exposure across different fields of pharmacy, which helped him understand the profession from multiple perspectives.

During his undergraduate years, he gained experience in community pharmacy, tertiary hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry before securing an internship with a leading multinational pharmaceutical company through the university’s industry partnerships.

Beyond academics, Ng embraced leadership opportunities through the institution’s Student Council, Taylor’s University Pharmacy Students’ Society and the Malaysian Pharmacy Students' Association.

He also presented research at the Asean PharmNET Conference, experiences that complemented his academic journey and culminated in him receiving the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society–CCM Gold Medal in 2017 as Taylor's Outstanding Pharmacy Student.

After graduation, he went on to earn a prestigious international scholarship for postgraduate studies before continuing his academic journey through a fully funded PhD scholarship at a leading Australian university.

Curiosity beyond graduation

Ng credits inspiring mentors, meaningful research opportunities and experiential learning, encouraging him to keep challenging himself beyond graduation.

His postgraduate research has contributed to efforts to optimise treatment for vulnerable patient populations.

"Clinical practice taught me how to improve care for one patient at a time, while research showed me the potential to improve care for thousands more," he said.

Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) programme director Assoc Prof Dr Jason Loo believes that while the university provides an environment rich with opportunities, students play an equally important role by staying adaptable, open-minded and willing to make the most of every experience available to them.

Dr Loo advises every graduate to take advantage of every experience available to them, both inside and outside the classroom, and invest in their own growth during university.

“A solid technical foundation will always matter for a profession such as pharmacy, but adaptability and an open mind will define the best pharmacists of the next generation,” he said.

Looking back, Ng describes his journey at Taylor’s University in three words: curiosity, perseverance and purpose.

Those qualities continue to guide his career today and reflect the mindset he believes will enable future pharmacists to make meaningful contributions across healthcare, research and the pharmaceutical industry.

For students considering a career in pharmacy, the programme offers specialised pathways in Advanced Pharmaceutical Industry Practice and Cosmetic Science, alongside embedded professional certifications. Students also benefit from the Pharmaceutical Industry Student Adoption (PISA) programme, which connects them with leading healthcare providers and the pharmaceutical industry and strengthens their exposure to real-world practice.

Taylor’s University ranks among the World’s Top 250 for Pharmacy and Pharmacology in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, and its Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) programme is accredited by the Pharmacy Board Malaysia.

Whether in hospitals, the pharmaceutical industry, research or international healthcare organisations, graduates of Taylor's University School of Pharmacy make meaningful contributions across the profession.

Discover how the School of Pharmacy prepares students for these diverse career pathways here.