"I'm a doctor"/"I'm a nurse"

Well, it doesn't tell me that you can do a grab and go. It tells me that I can use jargon during my drug counselling.

It's my responsibility to do drug counselling and I appreciate that the other medical professions accept that. Unless you are doing some abusive bulk buy to lug overseas, I'll find it pointless to do drug counselling as how much can you remember from a list of 10+ drugs?

A lot of pharmacists are doing a "so since you are a nurse/doctor, so you know how to take your medicine hor?" Lidat, aren't they relieving themselves of the duties of a pharmacist? We educate patients - if we allow grab and go-es, won't patients want that too? It really brings the locally accepted point that we are shopkeepers and not drug therapists. In this way, more doctors will give drugs without our intervention and drug counselling and the same goes for the nurses who may do not feel a need for us as pharmacotherapists.

Even if they filled in blank cheque for their medicine, I make it a point to clarify their medications, serious A/E, potential hazards and right way of taking. Don't be surprised that some doctors and nurses will have their eyes opened wide wide during such counselling sessions. Same applies for pharmacists who are not familiar with the medication dispensed.

So, even though you are a doctor or nurse, do me a favour by not merely saying that "I'm a doctor/nurse. I know how to take my medicine." Let me do my job and give you a thorough and full drug counselling - unless it's a repeat prescription or you have been taking it for a nong nong nong time then would I stop short of a fullblown counselling session.

As pharmacists, we ought not to be pushed over by such statements but exercise our right to professional judgement and professional execution of tasks that are specific to our profession. In this way, take full responsibility in hope that it will become our right.