Where the hell are the pharmacists?
Was listening to the radio on the way to work just now and the topic of the availability of pharmacists at pharmacies was discussed. Apparently the DJ had a migraine and when he went to the pharmacy the pharmacist wasn’t there!!!!!
Many callers actually called in to complain and relate their own experiences with the MIA pharmacists. It’s great to be a retail pharmacist. I too wanna venture into that area after working as a clinical pharmacist…why? There are shifts and the working hours are flexible…but aren’t u supposed to be at work especially at peak time? I bet most of us have experienced going to the pharmacy the pharmacist wasn’t there!!! It’s a pharmacy god damn it! the pharmacy profession got a good bashing on air...and yes I did feel the pinch too...but oddly enough I do agree man...the pharmacy profession is going to the pits as more n more pharmacists are actually only thinking of making money and not the very essence of the profession which is to provide service to the community...helping people man. This happens in franchise pharmacies and not independent ones…why? I mean don’t the independent ones lose out to the numerous chain outlets of the franchises and thus they should be the ones who want earn a quick buck or two…Seriously I’m quite embarrassed to be actually associated with this bunch of unethical people.
Some callers made good points...like for instance why does a pharmacist work 9 to 5 at some retail pharmacies when the general public actually finishes work at 5!! One person suggested getting the enforcement which is the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau, to check on pharmacists…not only in the control of drugs but in the ethics and morality of the pharmacists…check in on whether they are actually at work and whether they are performing their job description. May be go as an undercover customer like suggested by a caller. I was sad to hear the listeners saying that every time they got to the pharmacy all the pharmacists say is what do u need and asks them to fill in their particulars in the Poison Book….oh my god!!! Where is the counseling man? We are not mere dispensers’ la…that makes me sick…I remember when my friends and I did our internship in UMMC…we were stationed at the out patient for a brief period n were surprised to find out that most of the people there in fact dispensers and not pharmacists. But the worst thing was that most of them didn’t do any sort of counseling…and I bet the head pharmacists were surprised n u could say a lil embarrassed when my friends and I questioned the function of a pharmacists in the outpatient.. And why people weren’t at least given minimum counseling? And all he could say is that they wanna minimize the waiting period for other patients and most of the patients know how to take the medication We understand that after a long long wait for their medication, people don’t want to hear some fella saying “take this like this…bla bla” especially if they have been taking the medication for years…but isn’t it our duty? Don’t they have a conscience? I mean handing out medication and expecting and assuming the patients to know what to do? My best friend once told me, “assumptions are the mother of all fuck-ups!!!” aint he right..
I didn’t agree with certain things the callers had to say. One caller said if the pharmacist is not in, why not get the retail assistant to dispense the medicine and get the customer to fill in the “book”…the “book” is for controlled medication la…haiyo…and only pharmacist who have a Type B licence can dispense such medication my dear…but cant blame the public cos may be they don’t know la…
Another guy called and said why the hell are pharmacies selling other things besides medication? This is a sticky topic… why can’t they sell things like shampoo n toothpaste esp. if they are the medicated one or for special conditions…where else are u gonna get those things huh? Being a pharmacist is to actually ensure the well being of the community which includes personal care like hygiene etc and ensuring the quality of life…so why can’t pharmacies sell these items? I do admit the community pharmacies are in fact a business la that’s why they are known as “retail” pharmacies…so that’s why they do sell other personal care items like make-up and hair dye…the callers were complaining that they are taking business away from the normal sundry shops…but c’mon people are wise enough to make their own decisions….isn’t it convenient to go to the pharmacy n buy your vitamins n also your shampoo n stuff…I mean its personal choice. the caller, “male” I believe, was complaining that Kedai Ah Chong’s shampoo will be cheaper…so go and buy ur shampoo from there la wei…doesn’t he know that pharmacies do have promotions and sales!!! And the prices are reasonable? Sheesh…I just feel u can sell whatever that is inline with personal well being. I personally kinda not like the concept of selling food items in abundance especially if they are unhealthy…I mean if its food items like Goats Milk formula(which is good for asthma patients but stinks as helll!!!), special infant formula.. etc then its fine…not snacks la..
It’s quite sad listening in to the show today and really wanted to call in and defend my kind…the ethical bunch of us… it saddens me to cos when we actually study to become pharmacists we are taught ethics and the roles of a pharmacist but I guess at the end of the day the "reason" why people wanna become pharmacist is based on the individuals’ mindset. Meeting up with the gals this Saturday for Mel’s bday…this will definitely be the topic of discussion…hmm may can ask Kim to do something since she is in the bureau …hahah im talking like she is in charge or something!!! All I know is that my friends n I have vowed and promised to each n ourselves what kind of pharmacists would we like to become and honestly the temptation of money may cause a few to breach that contract we made to ourselves…but I know ill never…I just wanna be a good pharmacist.. I really do…so hurry the hell up with the damn posting!!!
Many callers actually called in to complain and relate their own experiences with the MIA pharmacists. It’s great to be a retail pharmacist. I too wanna venture into that area after working as a clinical pharmacist…why? There are shifts and the working hours are flexible…but aren’t u supposed to be at work especially at peak time? I bet most of us have experienced going to the pharmacy the pharmacist wasn’t there!!! It’s a pharmacy god damn it! the pharmacy profession got a good bashing on air...and yes I did feel the pinch too...but oddly enough I do agree man...the pharmacy profession is going to the pits as more n more pharmacists are actually only thinking of making money and not the very essence of the profession which is to provide service to the community...helping people man. This happens in franchise pharmacies and not independent ones…why? I mean don’t the independent ones lose out to the numerous chain outlets of the franchises and thus they should be the ones who want earn a quick buck or two…Seriously I’m quite embarrassed to be actually associated with this bunch of unethical people.
Some callers made good points...like for instance why does a pharmacist work 9 to 5 at some retail pharmacies when the general public actually finishes work at 5!! One person suggested getting the enforcement which is the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau, to check on pharmacists…not only in the control of drugs but in the ethics and morality of the pharmacists…check in on whether they are actually at work and whether they are performing their job description. May be go as an undercover customer like suggested by a caller. I was sad to hear the listeners saying that every time they got to the pharmacy all the pharmacists say is what do u need and asks them to fill in their particulars in the Poison Book….oh my god!!! Where is the counseling man? We are not mere dispensers’ la…that makes me sick…I remember when my friends and I did our internship in UMMC…we were stationed at the out patient for a brief period n were surprised to find out that most of the people there in fact dispensers and not pharmacists. But the worst thing was that most of them didn’t do any sort of counseling…and I bet the head pharmacists were surprised n u could say a lil embarrassed when my friends and I questioned the function of a pharmacists in the outpatient.. And why people weren’t at least given minimum counseling? And all he could say is that they wanna minimize the waiting period for other patients and most of the patients know how to take the medication We understand that after a long long wait for their medication, people don’t want to hear some fella saying “take this like this…bla bla” especially if they have been taking the medication for years…but isn’t it our duty? Don’t they have a conscience? I mean handing out medication and expecting and assuming the patients to know what to do? My best friend once told me, “assumptions are the mother of all fuck-ups!!!” aint he right..
I didn’t agree with certain things the callers had to say. One caller said if the pharmacist is not in, why not get the retail assistant to dispense the medicine and get the customer to fill in the “book”…the “book” is for controlled medication la…haiyo…and only pharmacist who have a Type B licence can dispense such medication my dear…but cant blame the public cos may be they don’t know la…
Another guy called and said why the hell are pharmacies selling other things besides medication? This is a sticky topic… why can’t they sell things like shampoo n toothpaste esp. if they are the medicated one or for special conditions…where else are u gonna get those things huh? Being a pharmacist is to actually ensure the well being of the community which includes personal care like hygiene etc and ensuring the quality of life…so why can’t pharmacies sell these items? I do admit the community pharmacies are in fact a business la that’s why they are known as “retail” pharmacies…so that’s why they do sell other personal care items like make-up and hair dye…the callers were complaining that they are taking business away from the normal sundry shops…but c’mon people are wise enough to make their own decisions….isn’t it convenient to go to the pharmacy n buy your vitamins n also your shampoo n stuff…I mean its personal choice. the caller, “male” I believe, was complaining that Kedai Ah Chong’s shampoo will be cheaper…so go and buy ur shampoo from there la wei…doesn’t he know that pharmacies do have promotions and sales!!! And the prices are reasonable? Sheesh…I just feel u can sell whatever that is inline with personal well being. I personally kinda not like the concept of selling food items in abundance especially if they are unhealthy…I mean if its food items like Goats Milk formula(which is good for asthma patients but stinks as helll!!!), special infant formula.. etc then its fine…not snacks la..
It’s quite sad listening in to the show today and really wanted to call in and defend my kind…the ethical bunch of us… it saddens me to cos when we actually study to become pharmacists we are taught ethics and the roles of a pharmacist but I guess at the end of the day the "reason" why people wanna become pharmacist is based on the individuals’ mindset. Meeting up with the gals this Saturday for Mel’s bday…this will definitely be the topic of discussion…hmm may can ask Kim to do something since she is in the bureau …hahah im talking like she is in charge or something!!! All I know is that my friends n I have vowed and promised to each n ourselves what kind of pharmacists would we like to become and honestly the temptation of money may cause a few to breach that contract we made to ourselves…but I know ill never…I just wanna be a good pharmacist.. I really do…so hurry the hell up with the damn posting!!!
posted by SinfullySweet @ 8:57 PM
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