Effective cardiovascular care extends beyond the consultation room. Pharmacists play an increasingly important role in helping patients understand their medications, improve adherence and achieve evidence-based treatment targets.
On 15 August 2026, healthcare professionals gathered at Amari Hotel, Johor Bahru, for Pharmacy in Motion: Empowering Access, Adherence, Outcomes, a professional education meeting focused on cardiovascular, renal and metabolic health.
The programme brought together experts from cardiology, nephrology and dietetics to discuss practical approaches to improving patient outcomes.
The event was chaired by Ms. Wendy Gwee Xin Yun, Senior Area Manager, Big Caring Group Berhad, with sessions delivered by healthcare professionals including Dr. Fu Mei Sian, Consultant Nephrologist at Regency Specialist Hospital, Dr. Lim Wei Juan, Consultant Cardiologist at KPJ Johor Specialist Hospital, and Ms. Siti Munirah Binti Mahmud, Head of Dietetics and Food Services at KPJ Pasir Gudang Specialist Hospital.
From Glycaemia to Organ Protection: Recognising Hidden CKD
The programme opened with a focus on chronic kidney disease and the important role pharmacists can play in recognising patients at risk.
Dr. Fu Mei Sian discussed “From Glycaemia to Organ Protection: Finding Hidden CKD in Pharmacy”, highlighting the importance of identifying kidney disease early and supporting appropriate management.
The discussion continued with practical strategies for maintaining renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor therapy while managing hyperkalaemia, with the aim of improving long-term patient outcomes.
These topics reinforce the importance of collaboration between pharmacists, physicians and other healthcare professionals in managing patients with interconnected cardiovascular, renal and metabolic conditions.
Optimising LDL-C Reduction in Pharmacy Practice
One of the cardiovascular-focused sessions was delivered by Dr. Lim Wei Juan, Consultant Cardiologist at KPJ Johor Specialist Hospital.
The presentation, “Start Strong, Stay on Target: Optimising LDL-C Reduction with High-Intensity Statins in Pharmacy Practice,” focused on the importance of achieving appropriate LDL-C reduction and maintaining patients on effective lipid-lowering therapy.
For patients at high cardiovascular risk, lipid management is not simply about starting treatment. Long-term success also depends on monitoring, adherence, addressing barriers to treatment and ensuring that therapy continues to be optimised according to the patient’s cardiovascular risk.
Pharmacists are ideally positioned to support this process through medication counselling, adherence checks and communication with the treating medical team.
The First 90 Days After Acute Coronary Syndrome
The programme also addressed a particularly important period in cardiovascular care: the first three months following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
The session “The First 90 Days After ACS: How Pharmacists Can Help Prevent Gaps, Manage Risks, and Improve Adherence” highlighted the role pharmacists can play during this critical period.
Following a heart attack or other ACS event, patients may be prescribed multiple medications and may have concerns about side effects, costs, dosing schedules or the duration of treatment.
Medication adherence and early follow-up therefore become important components of secondary prevention.
A coordinated approach between cardiologists, pharmacists, primary care doctors and patients can help address these practical barriers and support continuity of cardiovascular treatment.
Beyond Cardiovascular Disease: A Multidisciplinary Approach
The programme also incorporated nutritional management, with Ms. Siti Munirah Binti Mahmud presenting “Food for Thought: Empowering Better Food Choices for Diabetes and Kidney Health.”
The combination of cardiology, nephrology, pharmacy and dietetics reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of cardiovascular, renal and metabolic disease.
Many patients live with several risk factors simultaneously, including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and chronic kidney disease. Managing these conditions effectively requires more than focusing on a single number or single medication.
Empowering Pharmacists to Improve Patient Outcomes
The Pharmacy in Motion 2026 programme provided an opportunity for healthcare professionals to exchange practical knowledge across different areas of cardiovascular, renal and metabolic medicine.
For pharmacists, understanding cardiovascular risk, lipid management and post-ACS care can help strengthen their role in long-term patient management.
Ultimately, better outcomes depend not only on prescribing the right treatment, but also on ensuring that patients understand their therapy, remain adherent and receive appropriate follow-up.
Events such as Pharmacy in Motion provide an important platform for strengthening collaboration between healthcare professionals and translating clinical knowledge into better patient care.
Pharmacy in Motion: Empowering Access, Adherence, Outcomes was held on 15 August 2026 at Amari Hotel, Johor Bahru, as a healthcare-professional meeting focused on cardiovascular, renal and metabolic health.