Bitter Truth #1: Kalaban ka ng taungbayan

When it comes to meds, one could say that Pharmacists are the police. We are responsible in the regulation of medications to promote its correct usage and prevent its abuse, therefore improving the quality of life of the patient.

Which is why we require that prescription be presented before we can dispense a certain medication. What the general public doesn't know is that the prescription is the proof that a physician has approved the medication for the patient, has assured its safety and confirmed that it is the correct medication for the patient's condition according to the doctor's diagnosis. This is actually done to protect the public. The prescription tells us that the medication has indeed been recommended by the physician.

There are special cases, of course, and we do take this into consideration. The idea is hindi sa ipinagdadamot ng gamot ang pasyente, but simply to assure the safety of the patient. And yet, people hate pharmacists when they are denied their prescription drugs. Pakiramdam nila, ipinagdadamot natin sila. Kaya nagagalit sila sa 'tin. Tayo nagiging kaaway nila.

Remember: SELF MEDICATION IS A BIG NO NO! Guys, wag tayong nagmamarunong. What you don't know might not just hurt you, it CAN kill you. Kahit kami na apat na taong ipinag aralan ang gamot ay wala pa rin kaming otoridad na magreseta ng gamot dahil hindi sapat ang kaalaman namin. That's why we're not allowed to dispense a precription drug without a prescription. Hindi nag-aral ang mga doktor ng medisina ng isang dekada para sa wala lamang. Only they have the adequate knowledge and expertise to recommend a prescription drug. That's why the're the ones who are authorized to prescribe. Kung hindi ka doktor, wag mu resetahan ang sarili mu at magfeeling doktor.

And doctors do make mistakes. Tao lang naman. That's why we have to check the prescription. It is a crucial responsibility taken for granted. That's why pharmacists are the ones who have the license to dispense medications. Kaya sa mga makukulit na nagmamarunong, wag kayo feeling na mas marunong pa kayo sa Pharmacist.

Requiring a prescription before dispensing a medication is also mandated by law. It was approved by the governemnt for a reason. Hindi trip trip lang.

At kung iisipin natin, ang drugstore syempre gusto bumenta at kumita. Kung walang pakielam ang mga Pharmacist, hindi na kami hihingi ng reseta. Bebenta na lang kami ng bebenta at lalago nang lalago ang negosyo ng tindahan. Kaya nga lang, buhay ng tao kasi ang usapan dito. This is not just any business. That's why we have strict standards, and no one should be an exception, kahit anu pa ang propesyon mo.

Kaya hindi sa ipinagdadamot, kaligtasan nyu lang ang isinasapuso namin. Wag na sana sumama ang loob at nawa'y unawain nyu na lang din.

Reality bites.

What they didn't teach us in class (and what they should have)

A community pharmacist is a lot of things, but nothing like what they taught in class They taught a lot of things back in College, but also left out some critically important truths...

1) Kaaway ka ng taungbayan

A lot of people will hate you whenever you deny them their medication just because they don't have a prescription. They will express their anger towards you by raising their voice, yell or even scream at you, curse you, point their finger at you and sometimes, you may even get the occasional slap in the face.

Face it: To them, you are just a medicine seller and everything is your fault.

2) Not a job for the fainthearted

You are not a certified Community Pharmacist until you have been mistreated by a customer one way or another. You will be insulted and will feel degraded. There will be customers who will inflict emotional and physical harm on you. And you don't even have to do anything wrong; you just simply have to do your duty as a pharmacist.

3) Isa kang bayani

After all you've been through to get your license, you'll be underpaid and overworked. You will be mistreated just because you care for the customer.

4) Making up for the public's lack of knowledge

There's so much the majority of the Filipinos don't know, and you have to pay for it. You will have to deal with people who think medicines are just like candy – eat whatever they want when they like it.

Again, you'll be degraded and insulted, because aside from some people not knowing any better, some are just plain mean.

5) Pharmacists are not to blame

I've been there, and done that (although not for very long yet), and I can say with conviction that it is not the Pharmacists' fault that we are in this predicament, or at least, not entirely.

Face it: We need the support of our employers in order to fulfill our true role as Pharmacist. And we probabaly need some “organization's” support for the drug companies to realize this. Until then, good luck sa 'tin.

6) If salary=value of job, then pharmacist=almost worthless

If the salary is the basis, dealing with a patient's life isn't as important as being like, say, being a call center agent.

7) You get to use only 10% of what you learned

Believe it or not, my first months of work made me realize that: I didn't learn much from college, or particularly, I didn't learn much of what I needed in the real world. Most pharmacists tell me the same.

So, where did all those 223 units of 4 to 5 years go to?

I'll be elaborating each of these truths in the next articles. You'll get what I mean.

Reality bites.