Bitter Truth #3: Bayani Ka

I remember this class quite vaguely when a professor of ours was discussing something I can no longer recall... Anyways, while he was discussing this topic and was asking something from the class, he mentioned as a side comment that “Okay, given naman na bayani ang mga pharmacist, anu pa....”. This statement was never emphasized in class ever after, but in my opinion, it was the closest to the truth of what the actual scenario of our profession is here in the Philippines.

And I didn't realize the significance of this mere side comment until I entered the real world of Pharmacy.

Yes, pharmacist, you have invested a lot of money, sweat and blood to earn your degree and license. Think of the summers you had to work for free (960 hours internship) while your friends enjoyed their vacation. Think of the money you parents invested for your tuition (in one University, Pharmacy had the most expensive tuition fee). Think of the all those aching units you had to pass (223 units in total), kung panu ka nahirapang makahabol sa barkada mu dahil 15 to 17 units lang per semester nila at ikaw hingalong hingalo at parang bugbog sarado ka sa sched mu dala ng 28 to 32 units per semester. Also, remember the money you spent on your thesis just to be able to graduate, the money your parents spent so that you could enter a good review school and pass your Licensure Exam as well as all the effort you put into it.

And you think it would all pay off? I had thought so too.

Kahit sa pagtatrabaho, ikaw pa rin, pharmacist, ang bugbog sarado at hingalo sa sched mu na walang weekend at walang holiday at puro OTY (Overtime w/o pay). Malaki rin ang posibilidad na hindi mu na masaydo makakasabay ang pamilya mu sa paglabas o pagkain dahil iba ang restday mu sa knila at iba rin oras mo.

At may additional na hiya pang kasama ang mundo ng trabaho, dahil ang mga kabarkada mo, mas marami na ang kayang i-afford, pero ikaw, mahihiya ka dahil di mu kaya i-afford ang kaya nila kahit ikaw yung bugbog sarado sa trabaho mo (pwera na lang kung may kaya ang pamilya mu at nakakahingi ka sa mga magulang mu kahit may trabaho ka na). Mahihiya ka dahil mag aadjust sila sayo dahil maliit lang ang sweldo mo at di ka pa rin nakakahabol sa kanila in terms sa sched nilang maluwag at sa sahod nilang bongga kumpara sa sahod mong mababa (below minimum pa nga sa ibang kompanya).

So here are the facts when you are employed as a Community Pharmacist

Salary: low to below minimum

(If you're offered a slightly higher salary, expect that there's a catch. You'll still be overworked and underpaid)

Perks: Verbal abuse from customers, sometimes even physical abuse

Responsibility: Life of your customers

Risk: Your license, all the money, efforts and time you have invested for 4 to 5 years to earn your degree

Isn't it all worth it?

Reality bites.