This award is presented to Pharmacists who promote excellence in the pharmaceutical industry and are leaders and role models in the profession.

This year, the award goes to Mr Png Yong Koh. Mr Png is currently the Vice President (Healthcare Division) of LF Asia Distribution, managing about 100 employees with an annual turnover of more than S$100 million.
 

Career Progression

Mr Png graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor in Pharmacy (Hons) and commenced his illustrious career in 1985, as a pharmacist in Mount Alvernia and Watson Pharmacy. His career in pharmaceutical industry started in 1989 when joined Warner Lambert, where he was involved in many roles such as sales manager, training manager and regulatory affairs pharmacist. Mr Png worked at the management level for many multi-national companies, building vast experience in both the pharmaceutical and medical device/equipment industry.

Keen learner

After completing his basic pharmacy degree, Mr Png took a post graduate Master’s Degree in International Marketing. His passion in pharmaceutical marketing also drove him to obtain a Diploma in International marketing and a Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management. Mr Png also armed himself with knowledge in accounting and finance by obtaining a Certified Diploma from the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants. He possesses a diverse wealth of knowledge, which he openly shares by taking up the role of a course developer and lecturer at many tertiary institutions.

Achievements and accolades

An avid supporter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore (PSS), Mr Png served as the vice president from 2002/3 and was a member of the PSS strategic workgroup in 2005. He continues to support PSS in many activities and has an interest in increasing the profile of community pharmacists. With his support, PSS set up the UCB-PSS Community Pharmacist Award and subsequently the LF Asia-PSS Community Pharmacist Award, to award recognition to pharmacists who have exceled in community pharmacy practice. For his efforts and contributions in promoting the pharmacy profession, in 2000, Mr Png was awarded the “Professor Lucy Wan Outstanding Pharmacist” Award.

Mr Png often challenges norms and under his leadership, LF Asia was among the few pioneer pharmaceutical industry companies to achieve accreditation as a Pre-Registration Pharmacist training centre for non-clinical rotation. LF Asia was also one of the first companies to offer the experiential learning program to NUS Pharmacy Year 3 students in 2016. It is evident that Mr Png is committed in training and grooming the next generation pharmacists into future leaders.

Known to be pharmacist of good standing, Mr Png has been an appointed member of the Ethics and Complaint committee of the Singapore Pharmacy Council from 2013 until current.

Congratulations and Special Thanks

Mr Png is a great supporter of the pharmacy profession, and we would like to take the opportunity to congratulate him on winning this award. We also thank him as he has kindly donated his prize money back to PSS to assist in recruitment of new members.