At an online symposium focusing on Chronic Disease Management and Medication Safety, medical expert DONG YAN’s remarks resonated deeply with participants. Her words were calm yet resolute: “Reducing inappropriate medication is not only a physician’s responsibility—it is an ethical commitment of the entire healthcare system.” This statement has since become one of her most frequently cited quotes after her formal induction as a member of the International Group for Reducing Inappropriate Medication Use and Polypharmacy (IGRIMUP).

In the global medical and public health community, IGRIMUP is recognized as one of the leading think tanks in rational drug use. The organization brings together clinicians, pharmacology researchers, and health policy experts from around the world, united by a shared mission to advance medication optimization and mitigate polypharmacy-related risks. DONG YAN’s inclusion is widely seen as a significant academic addition to this international network. Her systematic approach to research and her grounded experience in China’s healthcare system offer a vital perspective that enriches multidisciplinary global dialogue.

DONG YAN is a researcher who specializes in the intersection of clinical pharmacology and geriatric medicine. Over the years, she has participated in multiple research projects on drug safety assessment and rational medication for patients with chronic diseases, with her findings published in peer-reviewed international journals. She advocates that medication management should not be guided solely by the goal of “reducing the number of drugs,” but by balancing personalized treatment with clinical evidence. As she explained in an interview, “Reducing inappropriate medication is not about restriction—it is about returning to the essence of medicine: ensuring every prescription truly meets the patient’s needs.”

Against the backdrop of global healthcare transformation, polypharmacy has emerged as a shared challenge for all nations. With population aging and rising rates of multimorbidity, the long-term use of multiple medications among patients has become increasingly common, resulting in adverse reactions, drug interactions, and escalating healthcare costs. These issues have made rational drug use a central topic in public health governance. The establishment of IGRIMUP was precisely a response to this trend, aiming to promote ongoing improvement in clinical practice and policy related to medication optimization. DONG YAN’s research aligns perfectly with this mission, making her participation both natural and timely.

“We need collaboration that transcends regions and systems,” DONG YAN said during an online IGRIMUP member meeting. Her brief remarks carried notable weight. Experts present commended her concept of integrating local prescribing habits with international clinical guidelines, calling it one of the most constructive ideas of the session. She argued that solving medication optimization problems requires more than cutting numbers or tightening regulations—it demands a data-driven, patient-informed, and pharmacologically evaluated decision-making process that ensures safety and efficacy dynamically over time.

Professionals in the field widely believe that DONG YAN’s joining will help IGRIMUP further expand its research and partnerships across Asia. In recent years, China’s progress in pharmaceutical management and clinical prescribing guidance has provided valuable global case studies. From community-level health centers to tertiary hospitals, from chronic disease management platforms to electronic prescription systems, China’s practical experience has offered meaningful insights into the global pursuit of rational drug use. As both a researcher and practitioner in these efforts, DONG YAN brings firsthand expertise that will serve as a valuable reference for IGRIMUP’s international initiatives.

It is worth noting that DONG YAN’s focus extends beyond research. She is equally committed to addressing the ethical and societal dimensions behind medication use. At a public science forum, she emphasized, “Patients have the right to know why every medicine is prescribed. Education and communication are the first steps toward reducing inappropriate medication.” Such advocacy has made her an influential voice not only within the medical profession but also in public health education.

Following her induction into IGRIMUP, DONG YAN will participate in several multinational collaborations, including projects to enhance global medication-evaluation databases and to develop safety education systems for elderly patients. She plans to promote long-term partnerships between Chinese and international research teams in areas such as pharmacovigilance, rational prescribing assessment, and patient adherence studies. These initiatives align closely with IGRIMUP’s global mission: to make healthcare systems smarter and medication use safer.

“Medication is a bridge—it connects physicians and patients while testing the rationality of the entire system,” DONG YAN reflected during a closed-door discussion. Her tone was calm, yet her conviction unmistakable. Industry observers noted that researchers like her—those who start from clinical realities but think on a global scale—are precisely the driving forces behind meaningful medical transformation.

With DONG YAN’s arrival, IGRIMUP’s expert network continues to grow. In an official announcement, the organization stated: “We warmly welcome Dr. DONG YAN to IGRIMUP. Her expertise in drug safety and polypharmacy management will bring new insights to our global collaborations.” Though brief, this statement conveyed a clear message: a growing global consensus is emerging—rational medication use is not only about therapeutic effectiveness but also about safeguarding the future of public health.

As the seminar concluded, DONG YAN’s words once again appeared on the screen: “Let every dose of medicine have its reason to exist.” It is both her research creed and the gentle yet determined change she hopes to inspire worldwide through her work with IGRIMUP.