KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has directed the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to quickly resolve the issue of recognition for the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) qualification awarded to graduates of Alexandria University.

In a statement today, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the directive was issued in the interest of the welfare and future of the affected students.

According to the statement, the PMO has taken note of complaints raised by pharmacy students at the university regarding the recognition of the PharmD qualification for registration and professional practice purposes in Malaysia.

“At present, the Malaysian Qualifications Agency has no objection to the academic recognition of the programme. However, professional recognition for registration as a pharmacist requires consideration and approval by the Pharmacy Board Malaysia.

“Therefore, MOHE and MOH must resolve this issue comprehensively in line with the Madani framework, which calls for justice, compassion and wisdom in every decision affecting the future of the people, without compromising the professional standards set for the pharmacy profession,” the PMO said.

Earlier, the media reported that four students enrolled in the programme were unable to sit for the Poison Law examination last year while in their fourth year of study as the programme they were pursuing was not recognised by the Pharmacy Board Malaysia. — Bernama