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Curtin University has strengthened its international partnerships through a clinical placement for four final-year Pharmacy students at Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital in Penang, Malaysia.
Held from mid-June to mid-August, the placement offered students valuable opportunities to develop their clinical skills while contributing to patient care in a charitable healthcare setting.
Placement Highlights
Students were immersed in hospital pharmacy operations including:
- Participating in ward rounds
- Reviewing medication charts
- Counselling patients
- Collaborating with interprofessional teams
The placement also provided exposure to a wide range of medical cases, enabling students to apply their clinical knowledge in a resource-conscious environment.
Student Reflections
Faridah shared:
“The morning ward rounds throughout my placement strengthened my interprofessional skills when working alongside other healthcare professionals. For instance, we were tasked with presenting common medical interventions used for osteoporosis to one of the consultants during the ward rounds. Additionally, by encountering a wide range of medical cases, I enhanced my ability to assess the appropriateness and safety of each medication within a patient’s regimen. These skills include deprescribing, identifying medication-related errors, and optimising patient care.”
Jessie Chan reflected:
“This placement enhanced my understanding of hospital pharmacy workflows, including medication chart reviews, patient counselling, and clinical decision-making. It improved my confidence in identifying medication-related problems and highlighted the pharmacist’s role in optimising patient care within a multidisciplinary team.”
Strengthening Partnerships
The hospital’s CEO, Dr TG Thor, expressed gratitude for the collaboration between Curtin University and the hospital’s medical, pharmacy and HR teams. He commended the voluntary efforts of the internal medicine specialists and resident pharmacists who mentored the students throughout their placement.
In recognition of the partnership, Curtin University donated 20 boxes of blood glucose test strips (1,000 tests) to support the hospital’s clinical services and patient care.
Looking Ahead
This placement reflects Curtin’s values of global citizenship, experiential learning and collaborative healthcare education. It highlights the University’s commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships that benefit both students and host institutions, while supporting sustainable healthcare delivery in the region.
Want to experience this for yourself?
Check out Curtin’s Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
