Sunday, 4 April 2010

Great hospitalities in Manchester!

On the very April fool day, I went to Manchester again for the 4th time because I have to attend an interview on the next day. Thanks to QX for offering her house's living room's sofa for a night. I wish my room has that kind of sofa, it is really comfortable as I can sink myself into the sofa fully! I unavoidably became relying on her in finding ways to destination like the interview hotels and bus stops when I was not there alone..hehe..Also, luckily she is nice, or else I will be so pai seh because I didn't inform her that my another friend LF might stay in her place too..Apparently LF didn't bother to explain the situation to her as well..that's really not I would have wanted or done but I apologised on his behalf before I came back.
Then for 1/4's dinner, QX, together with HL and AB, brought us to a korean restaurant named Seoul Kimchi. The food there has got a lot of varieties, combining korean and japanese and with reasonable price, compared to Nottingham! I guess having rivalries is always good for the consumers...The restaurant was supposed to be closed at 9.30pm. When we went there it was 9.45 already and they were serving their supposedly last customers in there. QX LF and I went together and HL and AB went before us and we planned to meet there. HL and AB arrived first and they were rejected by the lady boss because they wanted to close already. Then when we arrived, we didn't see HL and AB and didn't know they have asked already. So, QX went in and asked whether we can still eat. The lady boss said we can order something simple as she thought we are just three people. Then, HL and AB re-emerged out of nowhere and the lady boss said oh I got cheated! Haha..It was so funny.
Nevertheless, she treated us nicely. We ordred a kimchi, a korean style dong fen and 5 korean bento and nothing else but she gave us a lot of extra food, like a kind of cold korean soup containing vegetable, and another dish of vegetable with dunno what sauce is that, and 2 extra bowl of rice!! The chopsticks are really nicely designed. So we sat there and took this and that, I felt like eating at home because there were so much food that u can simply take and no need to consider need to share it equally among your friends!However, at the same time, we felt quite bad because they were supposed to close the restaurant d. HL and AB kept on teasing QX to make her feel guilty until she decided to help the lady boss wash the dish at least to let her go home earlier. Haha..so in the end, we were too full and were unable to finish the food and left a little bit. The lady boss said the dishes will be washed tomorrow by another worker. haha...lucky us..Then on the way back, HL and AB were still teasing QX to make her feel more guilty. They said what if the lady boss being robbed on the way she went home and also, her husband might not be happy that she went home late all that...LOL...poor QX...perhaps she won't dare to go there again...
Then on the day to the interview, we missed the damn bus for dunno what reason because we were early already. Then we decided to take taxi QX, LF and I joined by QX's friend M. The cab driver there was quite nice as well. surprisingly he is a White British as I have never seen White British driving a cab here in Nottingham. Mostly is by Muslim here. The price can be negotiated!!so we just need to pay 5 pound for a ride for a distance like BGP to broadmarsh!
So there goes interview and I think I am lazy to share here at the moment about the interview. LOL..but after that, QX and M went shopping immediately while it was my turn to enter the interview room..Girls really...hehe...Then when I came out and met them, something bad happened because QX lost her certs while they were kept in M's folder. So M felt very guilty and three of us went to police station together to report that. In the mean time, QX kept saying its ok coz it can be replaced soon if not found. After making the report, I went back to nottingham. Then at that night itself, QX msn me and said the certs have been found! So efficient in a way...
So, these are all hospitalities stories in Manchester.I think that's a wonderful place as everytime I go there, I can find something new, including the police station this time hahaha....But also thanks to QX or else my previous week will be crapper in addition to my abstract and guidelines deadlines....

Monday, 8 March 2010

25012010 The Beginning of An End(2)

上个学期学了免疫系统,考试时好像很厉害那样,写了一些上课没教的,照讲师每次说的 Standard,这个应该至少可以拿个六十以上,可是我居然没有拿到。
无所谓,无所谓!
既然这样,也许是我学得不好吧!但我确实对它有兴趣。人不是很喜欢打打杀杀的吗?原来在人体里的免疫系统每天都与细菌这么做,做到一些时候,有时人本身反而被免疫系统害死。世界上也是如此,多少个人被自己的同类发明的武器杀死,已无从考证了。所以,我其中一个module 是关于各种各样的寄生虫,它们所传染的细菌及疾病,还有又是免疫系统。这个 module 里,我研究着到底寄生虫们能不能与人共存,从而避免一些人被自己的免疫系统消灭。有趣吧?当然,我其实是研究人家的研究,所以我也还没有正确的答案。但趋势确实是趋向好的一面。所以,人类还真应该向大自然学习啊!
在同样的这个科目里,我还了解了一些寄生虫及医治他们造成的疾病的药物。这是在我三年多的药剂学生生活里可以说最想学但又没机会学的。我们顶多只学了细菌,但都没学寄生虫,及许多许多的蚊虫,苍蝇等等。美中不足的是,我还是没有学到关于黑斑蚊及骨痛热症的知识,看来我回去做工时还得下一番功夫。
然后,说回那个presentation 的科目吧。我第一次这么喜欢自己完成的功课。我的presentation slides, 我看了又看,真的很喜欢,哈哈。。在这个科目里,有个解决病人医药问题的部分,和上个学期的差不多,但需要找出那个病人患了什么病,然后药物之间有什么问题,还有如何解决最泊切的问题,加上病人的药物有什么是可以改善的。虽然这个部分只占了二十分,但每次练习时我都很用心,因为这对我的前途大有帮助!

25012010 The Beginning of An End (1)

不知不觉间,真的到了最后的学期了。25012010是这学期的开始。一直都很想写上这篇部落格,但都一直很忙,然后很懒,直到现在。。。
我会说这是最充满挑战性的一个学期,也最有意义的一个学期。当然,意义不代表说我学的全都是对我将来有用的东西,但在某一程度上来说,至少我没在或无法在课堂上打瞌睡,这已经是很大的意义了,哈哈。。。
以前上课,总是与至少一个人一起走,闹闹哄哄的,现在,变成都是我一个人在走,因为大家的时间都不一样了。一个人走有一个人的轻松,到了无论是班上,还是我的实验室,都是与不熟悉的人在一起,所以我现在就像是重新开始,只不过其实还在同一个地方,而且,我是趋向结束的开始。
有时,得到的东西不是你想要的,你要当作那是上帝的礼物。我时常觉得生活上,我们可以主宰一半,而另一半就交给命运了。我的project 就是这么一个例子。从来都没想过会拿到这个研究癌症细胞的,但就是拿到了,也不能换,也没什么啦,帮助我的人都很好,也许神知道我的手并不精于做事,所以他安排了一些好人监督着我。
这个学期可以选择一些课来上。我从来都对presentation 有恐惧感,第二年时,当讲师 谈到这个module 要presentations 和其他东西做时,我断定我一定不会选它了。想不到,两年的光景就改变了我的初衷。而且,当我真的present 了,那成就感真的很高,当讲师说我做的好,我真的很高兴!也许,我从来都没有自信,这是命运安排来让我提升自己的。
另一个module, 是“谈生意”的。我只对前面两堂课有兴趣,因为后面两堂课那个讲师似乎把他们的成功将得太容易了,我还要和政府做六年的工,谈什么都太早了啦!

Saturday, 9 January 2010

短篇小说分享


这位小说家对于等待的观点与我的不同,但对于常见面,可以时常约会的情侣来说,她的见解却是非常正确的!


等待
---谢璃


她最怕做的事是等待,无论等待什么。

「为什么?」我问。

晚春的暖风扬起她软黑的鬓发,拂在阳光照耀的侧脸上,她微瞇着眼,眼神有淡淡的怅惘,她的美丽在那惊鸿一瞥的几秒,十分款款动人。

她说:「我曾经爱上一个男人,他总是让我等待。」

无论相约在餐厅、车站、机场、旅馆,她总是早到一步。

而毫无例外的,有关于男人可能不来或迟到的原因,在等待的那段时间,一一煎熬着她,令她坐立不安,频看手表,食而无味。

男人最后终究会来,带着软化她焦灼的迷人笑容,她霎时忘了方才的精神折磨,手掌紧紧牵系着男人,度过约会时心荡神驰的每一刻。

但是到了下一次,她仍然是等待的那一方,有时候时间长达一个钟头。

「到他来时,我感觉自己彷彿历劫归来,快乐里带着沈甸甸的疲惫,但他是吗啡,麻痺了我的痛楚,我占了下风,因为我对他上了瘾。」

她曾经试着晚到,比方说十五分钟,在不算太离谱的范围内,缓步走到约会地点,期待看到情人微露惶急的表情迎接她。

但彷彿上天在与她开玩笑,她看到约会地点依旧空无一人,男人比她更晚到,那是一种黑色的默契,她稳居等待一方的宝座。

「妳没有抗议过吗?」我问。

「有啊!可是没有用啊!」她声音软而轻,随风而逝,「他的理由很充足啊!比如加班,新案推出要和各部门沟通啊,竞争者太多不能掉以轻心啊……」

她垂下眼,喝了一口花茶,突然失笑,「妳知道吗?有一次,我干脆迟到一个钟头,临出门前,却接到了他的电话,他说他不能来了,他和国外的大老板要开紧急会 议,约会得取消。我挂了电话,坐在地上,大笑了十分钟,笑到眼泪都流出来了,那一刻,我第一次感觉到,我们之间的牵系慢慢松动了,有一种东西,慢慢从我体 内流失了……那是等待的动力,很奇妙的,我想,继续这样下去,我会干枯而死,像他家里窗台上的黄金葛,明明很有生命力的东西,在他有一搭没一搭的浇水下, 竟然也枯萎了,妳说,妙不妙?」

我没有说话,因为她笑容里依稀闪着泪光,如果没有深刻爱与绝望过,不会再提起这一切,而且,那样的痛楚记忆犹新。

「后来,我提出分手,他挽留过,不过也就那一、两次,他说我不能体会他的苦衷,男人没有事业,很难有心哄女人,但一切都不重要了,我的生命,不能浪费在等待上,而且,是看不到尽头的等待。」

她笑了一下,又道:「现在的男朋友,从没让我等过,他永远提早到十五分钟,有时候,一走出捷运旋转门,就看见他站在那儿,紧盯着每一个穿越出口的陌生面孔,努力寻觅的模样,让我忍不住哭了。」

「那多好,妳现在快乐多了吧?」我替她高兴。

「算是吧!没了那种挂心和上瘾的煎熬,多了安定和舒适,我现在,也不再奢求更多更好的对待,我也累了,前阵子,在偶然的场合,我竟然遇见了那位老是让我等待的男人。」

「喔?还是以前那个模样吗?」我好奇起来。

「样子没变,手里多了一束昂贵的紫玫瑰,他在等人。」她声音很轻,轻得快听不见。

「等人?」

「是,等一个女人。」她咧嘴笑,贝齿粲粲,眼睫却眨动了几次,让泪光隐没。「我终于明白,所有的迟到,都是因为爱得不够深。」

那一天,直到朋友的男友接她离去,我心头始终盘旋着那一句──

「所有的迟到,都是因为爱得不够深。」

Thursday, 31 December 2009

2009年的最后一天

10.58pm, 本来应该努力读书的我,还是趁着最有气氛的时光打下部落格吧!
转眼间,在英国读书差不多三年又三个多月了。一年一年地过去,最像什么呢?哈利波特吧?每一个故事都是新的一年,新的挑战,而且最重要的是它的背景也在英国。我是读药剂的,那么最称得上哈利的potion 课。虽然我没有学习各种各样的咒语,好像以 mus 结尾的“ Lumus”和“expeliarmus",但我有各种各样救人药物mab结尾的学名,好像 "Omalizumab" 和 ”infliximab“!哈哈,是不是很像?
我真的不舍得当学生的日子,我痛恨考试,但我喜欢学习。人说学以致用,但我比较喜欢学,不那么喜欢用,因为应用就代表工作,是充满压力的。她说我一定是不舍得这里的女孩子,哈哈,她真的很可爱!因为这是一种矛盾啊!我当然非常想快些回去,因为我这里没有值得留恋的红颜知己。但,为了生计,也不是都能时常见面的,你说生活讽刺吗?
每个人在计划着新年的同时,我却更喜欢回味。这三年多里,只去过很少地方,而遇到的人不算多也不算少,但学习到的人生道理却不少!学的最多的,就是真正去站在另一个人的立场上看事情;还有,知道人性的真善美,更知道人性的伪丑恶!为我将来踏出社会准备一下。。
每天无聊的时候,学会了看报纸,我以前真的不看的。然后,读书太闷时,就拿周星驰来解闷,因为他的戏看了几百遍都不会厌,所以我看完了他几乎所有的戏。。最期待每个星期五,因为有死神的漫画,虽然有时太罗嗦,但我就喜欢装B的死神们,太有型了!
在我大学的第四年,一些以前的朋友已经不见了,真的让我感到天下没有不散的筵席这句话的无奈!大约八个月前,一位以前中学的死党来找我,虽然我觉得他可能最大的木的是要来诺丁汉走走,但,他总比很多来了都不找我的人,好上几万倍了!他来之前我们还通了几小时的电话,他走后我有种想哭的感觉,真的,好朋友没有多少个,千万要珍惜!
然后,就是每一年的暑假。第一年我就窝在家里生锈,每天就是看小说,与时间赛跑,看到我生命中的最后一天时,我可以看上多少本。说到小说,在这几年里,我也有了新尝试。以前,我不看爱情小说,认为娘娘腔的。但,自从认识了九把刀和藤井树,我觉得其实爱情小说也可以很热血,很真实,感人就不用说了。还有,因为是英国,所以只有英文小说,我在看完了若干英文小说后才发觉原来在来英国自己根本没有买过一本英文小说。在钟灵就读的我,那些密密麻麻的英文字总把我吓坏,哈哈!可是,原来英文小说也可以很好看的。
第二年的暑假是过得最充实的,当教师玩得开心,与她相处一个月,算是到目前为止我生命中难得的精彩。
第三年的暑假当了药剂实习生,没得玩,但每天等放工等得开心,至少比没做工好多了,哈哈!
在”面子书“上,有时偶尔会看一下老同学们的照片,很多都变得很成熟了,有些西装笔挺,有些长达飘飘(因为以前都是短发的)。总之,每个人都不再单纯,我只想趁着自己还不老的时候感概一下,至少要做些什么,都还来得及。
对于新年,我希望什么特别的,不过就希望快些见到她,然后生活上的非洲和尚请离我远些,那应该可以了吧!哈哈!新年快乐!

Thursday, 1 October 2009

一则不到一分钟的小事

一则不到一分钟的小事,却让我生气了一晚。
今晚是我期待的一晚。因为和一班朋友吃火锅庆祝一位朋友的生日,我应该很高兴。整晚的气氛还很融洽,而且也有说有笑。
但就在中间有一小段不到一分钟的时间,不愉快的小事发生在我身上了。
朋友A买了个蛋糕来,但他不舒服所以走了,临走前要求我向其他人平均地分配蛋糕的费用。我并不想一个人担当如此任务。。因为邀请人家来我已经下了一番功夫,朋友A在未经我同意就丢下交待走了,我就像被人“揾笨”一样。
但这不是重点。说真的,我不喜欢我妈妈时常说我做人很直,但现实生活上我却真的有点那样。我不愿意做,但我也不愿朋友间有纠纷,所以我就叫身旁的人传话收钱,并表明不是我要的,是朋友A要收回的。
然而,其中一个朋友却说:“我是不会帮你传的,要讲你自己讲。”
我一开始的前几秒还以为那是开玩笑,我就说:“哈哈,原来你的人是这样的啊?”
当她不以为然地说随便你吧,我顿时觉得我像个笨蛋傻瓜!我只是帮忙传话收钱,根本不是我的意思,她突然间那样的态度,我突然间很后悔为什么在邀请时会邀请到她。。。我知道我不是主角,只是这个女人,在选餐厅时已经诸多挑剔,在席间又那么不客气,幸好没多少人听到,不然我真的可能扔筷子走人了。
所谓士可杀,不可辱!我觉得她如果不要给钱那就算了,但也不用那么不给面子!
如果有人读了这篇文章,觉得我很小器,那么这个人应该去敬酒,然后被敬酒的人泼酒,那他就会明白我的感受了。
英文来说,收50pence罢了嘛,你pass around the message then WHAT'S THE FUCKING BIG DEAL?!haih....

Tuesday, 1 September 2009

An Interesting Malaysian Pharmacy Issue

Below here is a post I found in a person's blog. He posted this three years ago and it is really funny that this chap here didn't really know anything about pharmacist but acted like he knew it.


The Blog title is WHY I DISLIKE MALE PHARMACIST IN MALAYSIA
Who is the president of United States?
George Bush. It’s so easy, right?
Who was the president of China?
Hu Jintao. it’s simple, right?
Who is the richest guy in the world?
Bill Gates. it’s commonly known, right?

Now, let me ask you,
Who is the vice president of United States?
Who is the vice president of China?
Who is the second richest guy in the world?

How many of us, can answer the first question?
Maybe 70% people can come out with the name “Richard Cheney
How about the second and third question?
How many can answer?
Not much. Really Not much.

Why we can simply remember George Bush, Bill Gates and Hu Jintao? However, most of the people find it reasonably hard, to come out with the names of people that ALMOST play the same roles like Bush, Gates, and Hu?

Is it because those people are insignificant?
No. They are also great people.
They also play important roles that determine the well being of billions of lives.
Then, why they are not remembered?
The harsh fact is that, people tend to recognize the top and the first only.
If you are a guy, and you want to do extremely well in life, you need to be the FIRST, not second, nor third.


Back to the topic, Why I dislike male pharmacist in Malaysia?
More accurately, I dislike non-entrepreneurial male pharmacist in Malaysia.
“Non-entrepreneurial” means the nature of “not having/planning to have” his own business.

“Male” is regarded to your gender.

“Pharmacist” is regarded to those highly-trained and skilled healthcare professionals who perform various roles to ensure optimal health outcomes for their patients.

The reason I am going to tell, will make some people have uneasy feeling. You can leave anytime, if you feel offended by my extremist’s crap below.

The whole argument below, is excluding ALL entrepreneurial pharmacist. They who run pharmaceutical business are not counted as pharmacist in my term. I call them businessmen with privileged knowledge, which set up the barrier to entry for pharmaceutical business. I have pharmacist friends earning 5 figures monthly. I respect and envy them very much, they are my role model that inspire me to do well in my life.

With all due respect, non-entrepreneurial male pharmacists in Malaysia are just some powerless and cocky professionals. Yes, I have heard about the future, the separation of consulting and dispensary in medical field. This is great for overseas developed countries. I respect those overseas pharmacists very very much. They are true drugs experts with dignity and power.

It was two months ago, my girl friend, Amanda had an ear infection. It was a very common disease to her, she had been having that throughout her childhood. So, we went into a pharmacy called “Caring” for some pills she used to take. And the pharmacist inside, as usual, asked her some questions.

Amanda had sought for a doctor last time, she had the exact name of the pills for her disease. She told the pharmacist, but the pharmacist resisted to give her the pills. Amanda made it very clear that the symptoms are completely the same, but the pharmacist said that she could only get Panadol. Furthermore, the pharmacist asked Amanda to go for a doctor.


How many years are required to obtain a pharmacy degree?
4 years to 4.5 years in campus.
How many years are required to obtain a medicine degree?
5 years in campus.(excluding off-campus practice)

So you are telling me that,
the 4.5 years guy gives me Panadol?
And, the 5 years guy gives me everything?
The 4.5 years guy can only help me kill my pain temporarily;
And the 5 years guy can save my life?
The 4.5 years guy will scare and worry about their legal liabilities of dispensing wrong drugs, even the patient insists the symptoms are the same.
However, the 5 years guy will take up all the responsibilities and do what it takes to cure?

I’m not a medicine student, but I seriously feel that a pharmacist in Malaysia deserves more. If a pharmacist is just an individual that reads the piece of paper, written by doctor, with that particular drug name which the patient needs, we don’t need you to stay in university for 4 years. We just need an individual that can read English.

You are educated for 4 years, to make judgement and make money, not keep avoiding and worrying about breaking the chain of causation, for any medical law suit. If I tell you what I need, and you don’t dare to give me, then what makes you different from a coward that just make money?
If you just want to make money, why don’t you run your own pharmaceutical business, then I’ll respect you like a businessman with privileged knowledge.
If you don’t, then make your judgement. Don’t avoid.

You will argue that, you have studied so hard, to understand the medicine, in order to explain the ingredients and effects to the patients. For all the purposes I mentioned, I figured out that all of them are being done by doctors in Malaysia.
You will argue again, saying that you are in charge of healthcare. Frankly, I will definitely turn to a doctor for consultation, if I’m going to take any vitamins for a long period. Yes, seeking for doctor’s consultation for once, is going to cost more compared to seeking for a pharmacist, but we are talking about things that we put into our mouth daily, I will never want to risk that.

The naked truth is that, pharmacist in Malaysia is Jack of all trades, expert of none.
Your job is just a derivative in medical field.
Your job is just a job to lighten doctor’s burden.
Your job is completely replaceable by a doctor.
You are just another vice president of United States,
You are just another vice president of China,
You are just another second richest guy in the world,
whom nobody bothers to remember you.
You have chosen to be the second,
And it is a sad fact that, regardless of effort and talent, second place only means you are the first in a long line of losers.
You have chosen to dispense Panadol,
Instead of sending cured-patient out of clinic’s door.
You didn’t choose to be a boy, but you have made the choice of not being a man.
You have chosen to lead a life under others’ shadow,
and there you go,
You have chosen to be a male pharmacist in Malaysia.

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This blog has been found funny by many readers and they shared with many of their friends.
So do I.

Here is an example of a comment posted there:-
ah.. jason liew, i just stumbled across whatever you wrote here by mistake by i find it very entertaining. i think you and your poor girlfriend do not understand what a pharmacist can dispense without a prescription, let me enlighten you about it so you don’t waste your time asking for oral antibiotics next time around and get all angry and start criticizing the poor pharmacists.
as a golden rule, pharmacists ALL AROUND THE WORLD, I repeat, all around the world and not just in ‘caring’ or malaysia are not allowed to dispense these without a prescription:
-oral antibiotics-antidepressants-barbiturates-cancer drugs-potent painkillers-diabetic med-med related to the cardio system
i admit, when your girlfriend had the infection, the pharmacist could have suggested topical antibiotics (as in ear drops)for her if her infection had been mild. otherwise,he did the right thing by sending her off to the doc. you know why? your girlfriend may have known thr name on the antibiotic pills but does she know the side effects and pharmacokinetics of the drug? bet she doesn’t unless i am very much mistaken.
why the pharmacist refused to give her the damned pills?number one, he is following the ethics.
number two , he can’t just dispense antibiotics as the patient likes because of resistance. know what i mean?the infection was caused by a microorganism, if she keeps taking the same antibiotics as she likes because she thinks she can cure herselfor does not finish the course, the microorganism can get ‘ used’ to the antibiotic and it won’t work as well anymore. you say she frequently has the same symptoms? think again, she might already be tolerant or resistant to the antibiotic because of frequent use of the drug and thus, the microbes keep recurring.
number two, antibiotics can damage the liver,kidneys (through which they are metabolized and eliminated) and some even pass through your brain and damage it. that’s why they don’t dispense antibiotics as they wish because patients think they are smart and use antibiotics as they wish for colds etc and poof! you might end up with kidney failure, get it? especially with repeated use and in doses larger than prescribed by the doctor.
number three, patients may lie to the pharmacist about their condition and sell the antibiotics to others. do you know the danger of this? the other people taking antibiotics without the doctor’s prescription may not know they have allergy and they can collapse,have kidney failure, low blood pressure and end up unconscious with brain damage(don’t think that allergy only comes as rash, redness, itching and swelling).
number four, there are several types of antibiotics depending on the spectrum. what’s a spectrum? it refers to the coverage of microbes. some antibiotics can only kill gram positive bacteria, some kill only gram negative bacteria. broad spectrum ones kill both. does your girlfriend know whether the ones she thinks she knows very well are broad spectrum? if she’s taking a broad spectrum antibiotic and is curcing the pharmacist for giving her the pills, then she is being unreasonable. do you know that pharmacists are not allowed to dispense antibiotics as they wish because they can kill the useful bacteria in your body like the ones in the intestines? the useful bacteria protect the body from dangerous infections. you use the antibiotics as you like, you kill the friendly bacteria and you can end up with dangerous infections . otherwise, the friendly bacteria can mutate and cause superinfections.
number five to why pharmacists don’t prescribe antibiotics as the patients wish. patients like to use it for colds (caused by a virus) and they are simply putting themselves at risk of side effects.(tetracycline causes permanent staining of the teeth if you didn’t know and as mentioned, kidney,liver and brain toxicity)
are you clear now why oral antibiotics need a prescription?? besides, a pharmacist is not allowed to treat ALL infections. Those like swimmer’s ear. fungal infections, middle and inner ear infections and those that involve hearing loss need a doctor’s advice no matter how well a patient can explain the symptoms. know why? because if one drug doesn’t work, the patient should not keep taking it for long periods. the doc needs to rediagnose and consider other drug options. not all infections are caused by bacteria, some are fungal and need antifungals. otherwise, if the patients are stubborn and insist on self medication (which is mostly hindered because pharms don’t sell antibiotics without prescriptions), they may end up deaf. but patients don’t or refuse to understand this.
***by the way, don’t think that pharmacists just read the prescriptions and pack the drugs. as they read, they detect mistakes and question whether the docs are prescribing the appropriate medication, doses and amount . don’t think that you can do this just because you read english,pal. english isn’t enough for this whatever your narrow mind may think. what would you do if a prescription said : Clarinase repetabs 3 tablets two times a day?? Since you say you only need an english expert as a pharmacist can you tell me the ingredients in clarinase, the max dose and if this prescription is overdosed??? i’ll be waiting for a reply , pal
they also ‘prepare’ the medication. you think all capsules and tabs are made by factory operators? did you know that pharmacists learn to combine the drugs and mix the together at uni? some drugs when mixed together some may just turn into liquid and how do you make a tablet then eh? the pharmacist is in charge of these probs. don’t think they are dumb because you just see the packing and labelling. they can open up capsules and mix extra ingredients as needed and perform dilutions.
do you know who dilutes and reconstitutes cough syrups, cancer drugs according to the patients age and weight? (by the way did you know most cancer drugs are unstable in water and have to be prepared with water on the spot by the pharmacist??) not the doc,the pharmacist .
who makes infusion liquids,iv nutrients, injections, suspensions,creams,ointments and emulsions like cod liver oil when you need it fresh on the spot? the pharmacist.
the doctors may be experts at anatomy and physio, stiching and diagnosing as well as know the drugs for each condition(sure they save lives, no denying).
however, the pharmacist also knows enough on phsiology and how the drug works(how else would you know how the drg affects the body?).
and who’s the expert at memorizing the side effects, half life , chemistry (yeah, chemical structures are related to how well a drug works and the side effect), toxic reaction, the solubility in fat ( fat soluble drugs remain longer in the body and increase efficacy but also prolong side effects), the dose calculation based on age, body surface and weight, how fast the drugs are eliminated and through which organ, which organ the drug penetrates into etc…who knows all this if not the pharmacist??
who knows the various generic drugs and recommends them to the docs so that the patients can pay less and still be treated as effectively? the darn pharmacist that you dislike.
are you clear about the word ‘pharmacist’ now? don’t think they are dummies in the hospital just following the docs or in the community pharmacy just gaining profit and denying you your oral antibiotics. they can also work in the industry as bosses overlooking the quality of drugs made.
oh yeah, who does research trying to invent new drugs? the pharmacist specializing in medicinal chemistry. i have no doubt docs save lives after 5 yrs of study, and i salute them for it. but remember, the docs make mistakes too when prescribing . if the pharmacist does not detect and correct the mistakes in the drug name, doses and administration route… patients die. ever heard of a certain doctor prescribing intracranial cancer drugs instead of intraspinal and causing the patient to die??
by the way. who do you think check the supply of drugs in the hospital, estimates the amount needed especially for the emergency and operation room and places the order? certainly not the doc. and who checks whether the drugs are stored as instructed at temperature xxx, room humidity xxx, away from light, in the freezer? the pharmacist, you think all drugs go on the shelves? what about vaccines, antidotes,biotech drugs?? the despised pharmacist does all these. but you don’t see all this do you? you only see them counting, packing and reading
so… in conclusion, mr jason liew… don’t go around criticizing as you like if you haven’t done your research properly. unfortunately for you, whatever you write here may backfire and emphasize the narrow-mindedness, the ignorance and mulishness of non-medical people (which i deeply regret). don’t say that a person who studied 5 yrs can save people and the ones who studied 4-4.5 years can’t. they work together and what they studied in uni may be similar in certain areas but vastly different in others. thus, they each have the specialitites. ‘curing’ is not a matter of diagnosing and giving drugs but also monitoring so that other problems do not arise from these drugs,alternting the drugs if there is no response and giving the most affordable drug to the patient, get it? oh yeh, by the way, pharmacists get promotions too you know. there’s senior pharmacist, head pharmacist and pharmacist specializing in pediatrics, oncology, cardiology, endocrinology etc…specializing in the drugs of course
who’s the coward?? a pharmacist is a coward for refusing to sell you oral antibiotics because they are afraid to outdo the doctor?? good grief, if you ever find any pharmacist selling any of the drugs i mentioned above, it is illegal and unethical because they ar dangerous. (how do you think heath ledger, daniel smith, anna nicole smith and marilyn monroe died??-misuse and overdose) so you should report those who sell them without prescriptions.
lastly, mt jason liew… no offence meant but do not write about things you don’t understand without researching the word ‘pharmacist’ first. it highlights you’re ignorance, mulishness, tactlessness and narrow-mindedness. however, i enjoyed what you wrote enormously and i showed it to my friends, some of whom are doctors and we had a great time reading it i’ll show it to others to amuse them of course. thanks for your opinion and remember, don’t waste time asking a pharmacist for oral antibiotics without a prescription. unless,the pharmacist is an illegal drugs dealer, of course.
by the way if you’d like to know… shiri is a 28 year old pharmacist way out in uk. and this reply was the teamwork of me and others… i just typed it down.




So, please enjoy reading this.