Rethinking the System: How Raziana Rasheed Is Streamlining Pharmacy Operations 

Pharmacy technician Raziana Rasheed (Advanced Diploma in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Class of 2026), a recipient of the inaugural NYP-SkillsFuture Lifelong Learning Award, shares how she improves pharmacy workflows by turning operational challenges into practical solutions.

I didn’t start my career knowing I would end up in hospital operations. After graduating with a Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science in 2016, I worked in retail — but it was only when I joined Changi General Hospital as a Pharmacy Technician in 2019 that I found my purpose. I realised I was naturally drawn to working behind the scenes, improving systems to make processes more efficient, 

Wanting to grow further, I enrolled in the Advanced Diploma in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Nanyang Polytechnic. Balancing full-time work with studies wasn’t easy. Receiving a job promotion midway through the programme was a surprise, but the timing turned out to be perfect. What I was learning in class directly supported my new responsibilities at work.

As I settled into my role, I started noticing patterns. Tasks could be reorganised, workflows that slowed the team down could be enhanced, and processes could be improved. Instead of just getting through the day’s work, I began asking, “How can this be done better?”

At NYP, I gained strong foundations in good dispensing practice and patient education, while modules on resource planning and workflow management sharpened my manpower planning skills. These became especially useful when managing medication supply to nursing homes. By optimising schedules and anticipating bottlenecks, I helped create safer and more timely medication deliveries – an increasingly critical need as long-term care demand grows.

One highlight was my project PharmFast, which streamlined how retail items are distributed to a partner nursing home. The new workflow has since been implemented in my department, reducing ad hoc requests, saving man-hours, and speeding up turnaround times.

Beyond operations, the Pharmacy Technician Entry to Practice workshop changed how I mentor others. Today, beyond guiding Pharmacy Assistants and mentoring interns, I also design pharmaceutical training that supports different learning styles and demographics. 

Receiving the NYP–SkillsFuture Lifelong Learning Award affirmed why I keep learning. Looking ahead, I’m exploring how AI can support self-directed learning and automate routine tasks, all while preparing for a degree and continuing to improve how pharmacy teams work, every day.