togetherness..

why we should do it together?

i have read alot of comments and critics about pharmacists in Malaysia. In the newspaper, on the internet, amongst friends, people whom i met at the hospital. Amongst the things outlined in the newspapers are Pharmacists should not play Doctors. I believe it is true. Pharmacists should not play doctor because, we were not taught how to diagnose patients. But we ought to know as well. People often get mistaken by this. We are not doctors because we dont diagnose. We are drug experts. How do u think a pharmacist will be able to explain how a drug works if he doesnt understand about the disease/condition? And, how would u think a doctor would be able to prescribe the RIGHT medication/s for the patient if he didnt know how it works? Simple as that right?

Its really funny to see the fact that pharmacists and doctors in Malaysia arent united because the scope of work overlaps one another. This is a generalization. I am not referring to all. I was involved in social services. We provided health check-ups like BP monitoring, Glucose and BMI as well as counselling. Many people say that that is the job of a doctor. I believe it is true because i thought that that was a bloody waste of time. The fact is that, Pharmacists are not doctors and regardless of the fact that we are not doctors, we also have the same knowledge. We dont diagnose patients, we refer them to doctors for proper treatment eventhough we know it too. Doctors are the experts in diagnosing, and pharmacists are the experts in the medication. I just dont see why it is so difficult to believe in that. I have many future-doctor friends. And i dont want to be at each others throat just because of all this. I have a friend who is not on good term with her dr aunt just because of this very misunderstanding.

I always believe that doctors are over-doing it. dispensing rights and patient care and u name it in the medical world. Little do they realise that actually what is more important in this situation is the patient. What is the point of finding faults when we can do it together. Nobody is the primary health-care provider. All of us are, and that is what we are trained for. No man is and Island. THAT we have to remember. Pharmacists at the same time should do alot more in terms of knowledge and self-esteem. Read and learn. There are lots of newly published journals regarding treatment and usage of drugs. Our numbers are increasing and we are definitely improving. U cant make everyone to abide the law. There are irresponsible pharmacists.yes, scream it out. there are also irresponsible doctors.

The neighbouring countries are already ahead of us in this matter. Jadi, ape lagi nak bising-bising? lets just shake hands,smile at each other, and start working together. Macam in certain hospitals, Doctors and pharmacists go for ward rounds together. They ask for suggestions and opinions regarding medications from the pharmacists. How cool is that. The pharmacists are also very2 knowldgeable. Nothing is impossible. If money is the problem, maybe we have to revise back why we are doctors and pharmacists. If it is all about you or me, this is not the job. :p Politics cannot get in between this matter as it can be (usually) one-sided. jadi, from now on.. lets stop the fued, and start working together. Good luck people.