KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) officially launched its National Declaration Against Vape and Smoking last July 25, a landmark initiative reaffirming the pharmacy profession’s collective stance against the escalating threat of nicotine addiction in Malaysia.
The declaration was unveiled during the opening ceremony of the National Pharmacists Convention (NPC) 2025, held at the Putrajaya Marriott Hotel and attended by over 400 pharmacists and health care stakeholders nationwide.
The convention, themed “Pharmacy United: Advancing Healthcare through Innovation, Collaboration and Resilience”, was officiated by Alice Lau, Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat and Member of Parliament for Lanang.
In her officiating remarks, Lau emphasised the significance of the convention as “a strategic platform where knowledge meets action, where young minds connect with experience, and where strategy is shaped to serve both patient and nation.”
She also highlighted Malaysia’s ongoing health care reforms, drawing attention to the Mekanisme Ketelusan Harga Ubat (MKHU) as a key national initiative aligned with the Asean Declaration on Drug Security and Self-Reliance (ADSSR).
“MKHU is more than a mechanism; it is a message — a return to trust, that health care must be honest. And that policy, when driven by purpose, can transform systems from the inside out,” she stated.
Acknowledging the expanding role of pharmacists in health care, she affirmed, “You are now the bridge between policy and practice, between access and ethics, between care and cure.”
In his keynote address, MPS president Amrahi Buang delivered a firm and impassioned message on the rise of vaping, particularly among adolescents. He condemned the industry’s aggressive targeting of youth and underscored the urgent need for a coordinated national response.
“This is more than a health crisis — it is an ethical and societal failure. We will not stand by as vape culture targets our children. This declaration is our line in the sand,” he said.
The Declaration Against Vape and Smoking outlines six core commitments for pharmacists nationwide:
- Rejecting all forms of vape and tobacco harm, including electronic nicotine delivery systems.
- Supporting the tobacco endgame and GEG legislation, with a call to reinstate nicotine liquids and gels under the Poisons Act and enforce the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act.
- Leading smoking cessation and early intervention efforts, including expanding mQuit services and integrating pharmacist-led counselling into primary care.
- Rejecting industry interference, including CSR campaigns and lobbying efforts that seek to undermine public health.
- Championing youth protection, advocating for restrictions on flavours, packaging, and advertising tactics that target children.
- Promoting vape and smoke-free public environments, including pharmacies, schools, recreational spaces, and houses of worship.
Amrahi also reaffirmed MPS’s alignment with the principled position of Sultan Abdullah of Pahang, who has publicly called for a nationwide ban on vape products.
“Let us be absolutely clear: no form of nicotine addiction is acceptable,” he stated.
“The myth of vaping as a ‘safer alternative’ is misleading, dangerous, and deeply unethical. This declaration is not just a piece of paper. It is a line we draw — for truth, for science, and for future generations.”
“Having a stand is not enough. Action must follow. We now call on the Ministry of Health, Parliament, and health care leaders — fund us, equip us, and trust us to deliver,” he added.
Running from July 25 to 27, 2025, NPC 2025 features a comprehensive programme comprising over 40 sessions, including plenary lectures by distinguished speakers from Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United States.
The agenda covers diverse themes such as artificial intelligence in pharmacy, digital prescribing, pharmaceutical specialisation, health care financing, and policy reform.
Breakout sessions span ten thematic chapters, including military pharmacy, women’s health, education, halal pharmaceuticals, and community pharmacy.
The convention also includes forums, poster presentations, industry exhibitions, and the launch of the Maya Pharmacy Adventure Book — an educational resource for children.
MPS affirms that NPC 2025 is not only a knowledge-sharing platform, but a strategic milestone in pharmacy’s continued contribution to public health, health policy, and national transformation.
