Name: Ng Yi Ling
Cohort: BP114
Current Role: Professional Care & Development Manager
Institution: Alpro Pharmacy
Location: Malaysia
From IMU Graduate to Transforming Community Pharmacy Through Innovation and Preventive Healthcare
When Ng Yi Ling graduated from IMU’s School of Pharmacy in 2018, she envisioned a future where community pharmacies would play a much greater role than dispensing medicines. She believed pharmacists could become trusted healthcare partners, empowering communities through disease prevention, early intervention, patient education, and sustainable healthcare practices.
Today, that vision has become the driving force behind her career. As Professional Care & Development Manager at Alpro Pharmacy, one of Malaysia’s largest integrated healthcare networks, Yi Ling is leading innovative programmes that are redefining the role of community pharmacists while improving access to preventive healthcare for thousands of Malaysians.
Her work reflects a simple but powerful philosophy—that healthcare begins long before illness occurs, and that pharmacists are uniquely positioned to help people take charge of their health.
Championing Preventive Healthcare
One of Yi Ling’s most significant contributions has been spearheading ASAP (Alpro Stand Against Prediabetes), Malaysia’s first nationwide community pharmacist-led HbA1c screening and management programme.
Recognising that many Malaysians remain unaware of their risk of developing diabetes, the initiative was designed to make early screening more accessible through community pharmacies. Since its launch, more than 25,000 Malaysians have undergone screening, allowing individuals to identify potential health risks earlier and receive appropriate guidance before complications arise.
Building on this success, Yi Ling also led Project Check Vitamin D, Live Brighter, a nationwide Vitamin D screening and management programme developed through collaboration between healthcare providers, universities, and industry partners.
Beyond raising awareness about Vitamin D deficiency, the initiative has reached tens of thousands of Malaysians while generating valuable research data that contributes to evidence-based healthcare and preventive medicine. The programme’s success has been recognised with the Retail Asia Award for Retail Product of the Year and the Healthcare Asia Award for Health & Wellness Initiative of the Year in 2026.
Leading Change Beyond the Pharmacy Counter
Committed to advancing environmental sustainability within pharmacy practice, she currently serves as Chairperson of the Malaysian Pharmacists Society’s Special Interest Group on Safe Medicine Disposal, where she has played an instrumental role in expanding the MyMediSAFE initiative.
The programme promotes the safe disposal of unused and expired medicines while encouraging greater environmental stewardship among the public. Through this initiative, thousands of kilograms of pharmaceutical waste have been diverted from inappropriate disposal channels, contributing to both environmental protection and public health.
Her work demonstrates how pharmacists can contribute meaningfully not only to patient care but also to wider community and environmental wellbeing.
Shaping the Future of the Pharmacy Profession
Alongside her professional responsibilities, Yi Ling continues to contribute actively to the advancement of pharmacy practice at both the national and international levels.
She currently serves as President of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Early Career Pharmacist Group, Deputy General Secretary of the Malaysian Pharmacists Society, and Industry Advisory Board Member for IMU’s School of Pharmacy.
Through these leadership roles, she contributes to policy discussions, professional development initiatives, and strategic collaborations that help shape the future direction of the pharmacy profession.
Her commitment and leadership have earned her numerous accolades, including the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations (FAPA) Young Pharmacist Award and the Malaysian Pharmacists Society Young Pharmacists Award in 2024, followed by the Malaysian Pharmacists Society Outstanding Member Award in 2025.
Giving Back to the Next Generation
Despite her many professional achievements, Yi Ling remains passionate about supporting future pharmacists. She regularly delivers lectures, workshops, and career development sessions for students and early-career professionals, sharing her experiences in preventive healthcare, precision medicine, sustainability, leadership, and innovation.
Whether speaking in lecture halls, mentoring young pharmacists, or collaborating with academic institutions, she hopes to inspire others to think beyond traditional pharmacy practice and embrace opportunities to create meaningful impact within their communities.
A Lasting Impact
Yi Ling’s journey demonstrates how innovation begins with a willingness to challenge conventional thinking.
From pioneering nationwide preventive healthcare programmes to championing environmental sustainability and shaping professional leadership, she continues to redefine what it means to be a community pharmacist in Malaysia.
For current and future IMU students, her story is a reminder that meaningful careers are built not only on professional excellence but also on the courage to innovate, lead with purpose, and improve the lives of others.