Less patients for GPs: Community pharmacists deserve better

Less patients for GPs: Community pharmacists deserve better.

WE could relate a lot with what Dr David Quek, president of the Malaysian Medical Association, mentioned in the article "Some are making only RM10,000 a month", that appeared on Dec 5.

We agree that work in the private sector is becoming more and more challenging as take-home earnings appear to be dwindling.

What is disturbing, however, is the claim that community pharmacies pose a competition with general medical practice by being "unscrupulous" because they "dish out" medication without prescription. Perhaps, it may serve as a reminder to state that community pharmacists are allowed by law to sell certain medications classified as "Group C" and "over the counter" without prescriptions.

They cannot, for one moment, be considered "unscrupulous". After all, they are trained to manage medication. Without the legal separation between the prescribing functions of doctors and dispensing functions of pharmacists, it can be understood that doctors' prescriptions given to community pharmacists are few and far in between. Hence, we cannot fault community pharmacists for doing what they are legally allowed to do, -- dispensing medication in the correct classifications without prescriptions. After all, they have a right to earn a decent living, just like doctors, after the hardwork during the demanding years in pharmacy school and considering the high cost of education.

Furthermore, it cannot be fathomed what exactly is meant by "simplistic point of care" offered. Community pharmacists are expected to provide pharmaceutical care through drug and lifestyle counselling. Their roles have been expanded by the need to promote a healthy lifestyle.

This is deemed to be the expanded role of all healthcare providers whether they be doctors, dental surgeons, nurses or paramedics. In fact, many community pharmacies have been certified smoking cessation service providers through a training programme conducted jointly by the Health Ministry and Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society.

This new role for all healthcare providers demands continuing professional development and certainly leaves no room for simpletons.

While taking cognizance of the fact that general practitioners need to work increasingly harder to cover the rising cost of living, it must be acknowledged that community pharmacists do not have it easy either.

Malaysia is recognised as a country with a successful primary healthcare programme and due credit must be given to GP clinics and community pharmacies as well as other institutions for contributing to that success.

Dr Quek is right in voicing his concern over the push to train more doctors to ensure a better doctor:patient ratio but this effort may create an imbalance between demand and supply. Competition increases with more graduates and, at the same time, eats into the shrinking cake. The scenario for pharmacists is similar and the two professions share a similar predicament.

In order to remain competitive, community pharmacies need to open longer hours. This may result in the need to employ extra pharmacists for shift duties. Presently, employment in the public sector is attractive because of the hours of work and higher salary. Hence, employers in the private sector need to keep pace and offer higher pay to employ pharmacists. Again, this eats into the bottom line.

Moreover, community pharmacists must maintain best practices as custodians of drugs by upholding the laws and regulations .

The rising cost of medication, together with more players, coupled with group pharmacies and private GP group practices enjoying advantages by buying in bulk have all threatened the livelihood of community pharmacies.

But it is laudable that community pharmacists manage to maintain their enthusiasm to serve. The main driving force must surely be their love to serve society and provide quality care.

What remains to be done is for healthcare providers to better understand each other's predicament and support each others' roles in the face of numerous challenges.

After all, we may be poorer in our pockets but richer in the reward of working together to promote health.

2010/12/19
DATUK NANCY HO,
President, Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society

Image of Pharmacy into Sewage – Transvestites and Obscenities

On the 18 October 2008, Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society Penang Area held a function, said to be Charity Dinner and Dance 2008. The theme of the night was “Because We Care”. With guest of honour was YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng, 42 inch television as Lucky Draw Grand Prize, chance to meet prominent figures related to pharmacy and many more, the function created high level of expectation. But, throughout the function, the expectation remains expectation only. It did become worse.
First of all, the dinner was totally unprofessional. There were dance performances by transvestites. The name of the group was Ika Fancy Dance Group KL. The idea of hiring transvestites to do performance throughout the night was a total stupid idea. I am not sure where the person keeps his brain when he suggested this group or maybe he or she don’t know anything about this group. Talking about the performances, their attire was totally sexy and in some instances indecent. Their action on the participants was so unacceptable. There was some point where some participants left the hall during the show. Some feel, it was almost like naked dances (they were not naked). The performances were absolutely insensitive to many people. There were people of various believe and position. More than 60 of them were students. How could people from some religions accept this? Some of them were in disgusted mood from the start till the end.
Next, the 2 games played. Game no. 1, a basket was tied to participant’s hip and a rope with a duck doll attached in the other end was tied to the basket. The task is to put the duck into the basket without using hand but by moving your body. The way to move is to move front and back quickly – just like when having sexual intercourse. The game no.2 is to pass cucumber from one to another person without using hand. The cucumber was placed between thighs and the next participant need to use his or her thighs to take the cucumber. For people present, the act was like frotting (to explicit to explain here-please check ‘frot’ in Wikipedia). This is how some of group of people felt watching all those uncivilized and nonsense action going on the stage. For sure, the dances and games were full of obscenities. Going back to the theme that is “Because We Care”, how would the association can say they care for others if they are insensitive to others feelings in the first place itself?
That was about the performances and games. Moving on to the problem of time management, the dinner was scheduled from 7.30pm – 10.20pm. However, the function ended at 11.45pm. Next, the Chief Minister should have arrived at 7.50pm but he reached at 8.30pm. Besides that, the master of ceremony was talking porn. His handling of the games arouses sexual thoughts through double meaning phrases. Nevertheless, the content of the function was empty. Nothing related to charity was carried out except few boxes carried around to collect donation.
The things that can be accoladed were the Lucky Draw and food. Almost all of the attended were satisfied with those 2 elements.
Watching all those nonsense and rubbish of the night, I just felt the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society Penang Area have dumped the image of pharmacy into sewage. The image of pharmacy that we all so proud about was made into disgust on that night. The society which should be responsible to improve the perspective of society towards the profession of pharmacy is destroying the good name our forefathers have left for us. If the Minister of Health was there to watch what happened, he would have dropped the idea of dispensing rights from the ministry’s planning. (However, if we look from the positive angle, we can see how much support and opportunity the organizer gave to the development of transvestites and obscenities in Malaysia – Well done, all the pharmacists are going to be proud of you.)
As a conclusion, the night was a shameful event. Next time around, the organizer must be more responsible and sensitive. They should always remember, respect others if you want to be respected. All I have expressed is only to point the mistakes so they can improve. The intention is to develop our pharmacy profession. If anyone felt being hurt directly or indirectly, I am not going to say sorry because that shows you are guilty. As a Malay phrase says, SIAPA MAKAN CILI, DIA RASA PEDAS. Ouchhh…..