KUALA LUMPUR, August 8 — Amidst the rapidly evolving health care landscape in Malaysia, community pharmacists remain as the most accessible and reliable source of health information.
Not only do they dispense prescription medications, but they also provide professional advice on various over-the-counter remedies that seem to multiply every day.
However, emerging data from studies and industry reports are pointing to a new concern: a knowledge gap in the areas of supplements, vitamins and complementary medicines.
In a 2024 peer-reviewed study in Frontiers in Pharmacology, 260 Malaysian community pharmacists were surveyed. The study showed that over 70 per cent of those surveyed considered their knowledge of products to be “average”.
Most interestingly, over 40 per cent thought that more expensive products were more potent than cheaper ones, even if they had identical formulas.
These results have important implications for product information learning, retrieval, and use. With the growing popularity of natural medicine and health products, pharmacists are now being called upon to offer evidence-based counselling.
But much of that trust is tied more to product labels, brand recognition or advertising rather than to clinical evidence or accepted educational content.
The Complementary Medicine Training Gap
It is not due to lack of interest. Previous investigation by Taylor’s University found that more than 80 per cent of pharmacists realise the significance of knowledge in complementary medicine, but fewer than 7 per cent had received any formal education or training in the subject.
Much of their learning occurs through informal sources—such as website content, discussions with colleagues, or briefings by brand representatives—which may lack scientific rigor which may deliver inconsistent or conflicting messages.
The absence of a formal education of complementary medicine is a problem. Without adequate and comprehensive training, pharmacists may not be able to provide accurate information on correct dosing for certain chronic conditions or identify interactions with a patient’s current medications.
The result is an actual or potential gap in terms of professionally delivered service and patient outcomes.
Moving Forward: A Professional Development Opportunity
These gaps in knowledge can only be tackled through a systematic, credible and evidence-based education of complementary medicine. One example is the Complementary Medicine Education (CMEd) initiative by the Blackmores Institute.
Launched in Malaysia in 2017—the first country globally to introduce this innovative programme—CMEd has since empowered more than 1,400 pharmacists in Malaysia to upskill and graduate with enhanced competencies in this field.
As a trailblazer in pharmacy education, CMEd continues to raise the standard for how health care professionals understand and apply complementary medicine in practice.
Designed specifically for pharmacists, pharmacy students, and other health care professionals, the multi-award-winning CMEd programme offers a comprehensive learning experience. It covers key topics such as evidence-based complementary medicine to manage common conditions, safety profiles, drug-nutrient interactions, dosing considerations, and practical points to optimise patient safety and treatment outcomes.
This robust foundation equips pharmacists to deliver balanced, evidence-based, and patient-centered guidance in everyday practice. With flexible, on-demand modules that cater to busy professionals, CMEd aligns with global standards in pharmacy education.
The programme has received widespread praise from both practitioners and academics alike, who value its immediate relevance and applicability across both clinical and retail pharmacy settings.
A Call For Institutional Collaboration
As the role of pharmacists continues to evolve, institutions play a vital role in supporting this growth through educational collaboration. Evidence-based complementary medicine modules should be included in university curricula and pharmacy faculties to better prepare future pharmacists for real-world practice.
Likewise, professional organisations can promote continuous professional development by endorsing structured educational programmes such as CMEd. Notably, through its collaboration with the Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS), the CMEd programme has gained strong traction among pharmacists across the country.
The programme focuses on providing unbiased, evidence-based information on ingredients rather than branded products, ensuring that the knowledge shared remains credible and impartial.
Some universities including Taylor’s University have started integrating this program into their Pharmacy Undergraduate syllabus to better prepare students for the workforce, academic and professional training that can help elevate the standard of pharmacy practice across Malaysia.
These efforts support the development of confident, well-informed pharmacists who are equipped to meet the increasing demand for safe and effective natural health products.
