Just to add on & clarify some points here...

On the PILOT PROJECT....the places marked to start off this pilot project is not only confined to Klang Valley, up north, George Town is included, down south, JB is in, as well as another 2 places. However, the pullback here is there is no date being set at the moment on when to start this...but hope it will starts in 2009.

The always brought up reasons for not starting the dispensing separation will always be down to lack of pharmacists, especially on private side...which is quite true. But the situation should improved in few years to come with more pharmacist completing their government compulsory service, with the 1st batch coming out on 2009, starting April...

However, if you look deep enough into this whole thing...the main agenda of doctors going against dispensing separation is INCOME! Coz mostly clinics are selling medicines at the same time as giving consultation...and they do get cheap, even cheaper price compared to pharmacies...and they sell you 2x the price of pharmacy. By separating the dispensing right...it means one of their main source of income r deeply affected.

Therefore, besides looking into issue of legislation, manpower, mapping of clinics & pharmacies, another major issue that really needs to be solved is the monetary reimbursement for doctors & pharmacists. Once the income issue have been agreed upon, i suppose other things r much more easier to go.

I also do hope that we can move towards the dispensing separation stage much quicker...but there are still lots to be done. Hence, the pilot project is seen as a major stepping stone towards this.

Keep our finger crossed & stay united!

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Added on December 12, 2008, 10:28 pmIt is sometimes laughable to see both doctors claiming dispensing of medicines have been their so-called 'traditional rights' & pharmacist claiming they are better position to get the dispensing right.

Each one dig out the others dirt that throw it at another...which makes both looks like kids

We have to bear in mind why the issue of dispensing separation have been playing up for decades...did i mentioned decades?? YES DECADES!!
The dispensing separation is aimed to provide a better healthcare system to the public...not to doctors or pharmacists! Various...i should say numerous studies done at countries practising dispensing separation has shown that it really benefited the patients & also the helathcare system.

In fact, look at UK, they are even started to give prescriptions right to pharmacist for minor ailments. This is a recognition towards the role of pharmacist in healthcare setup.

Be mindful that the healthcare is not about individuals...it is a team...doctors can't work alone without the pharmacist & nurses...and vice versa. If you have professionals in drugs knowledge, why not use it to provide better healthcare service?

Its time for both doctors & pharmacists respect each others role in healthcare system, less selfish, and also stop being ignorant to the facts that dispensing separation may be the way for a better future. If not, why a lot countries out there are adopting it?

It is not about the doctors r better or pharmacist are better...it is about provide a better, more efficient & effective healthcare service to the PEOPLE!!

This post has been edited by kingkong81: Dec 12 2008, 10:28 PM

Sorry my fren, I think u misunderstood me...wat i mean is when both pharmacists & doctors starts to point fingers at each others, talking bad about each others in public...it makes it look like kiddo fighting.

I do personally agreed that pharmacist can do better dispensing than others...that is on of d major part in the 4 years training.

I do prefer to let the professionals to do the part they are best in...pharmacist in pharmaceutical care, nurses in patient care, & doctors in diagnose & prescribe ()

This is purely arrogant...this is the kind of thing that we do not wish to see.
Doctors thinking they are the utmost important ppl & can't be replaced.

By comparing a SPM leavers being able to do a better dispensing job is nonsense. Then wat the heck pharmacists study drugs 4 yrs for?

Mind you...if u r talking purely dispensing, like...take 1 tab 3 times a day...bla bla bla...sure, SPM leavers can do that. Wat we are talking about in dispensing is including providing proper counseling & patient educations. I have seen doctors can't even do simple dispensing, not to mention wat drugs they suppose to give.

FIne..i respect that doctors are in better position to diagnose & prescribe...it is wat you all are trained for. But do respect others healthcare professional as well.

Do u think providing a proper treatment is juz by simple diagnose & prescribe? Then wat are the nurses for? Wat are the pharmacist for? We need everyone to run the whole system!

Remember, no one can work alone...it is a TEAM!

Show some respect my fren.

This post has been edited by kingkong81: Dec 13 2008, 12:05 AM

hey...another misunderstanding...

I'm not referring to the forum here...wat i meant is the last round of public 'fight' in public media...newspaper, news, etc. Doctors & pharmacists r having a public tongue fighting in newspaper...which i think is too much a bit. And i'm not directing it directly to pharmacists..it is to both doc & pharmacist

I oso never said pharmacist is as good as doctor in diagnosis...in fact, to a very extent, we (pharmacists) are not.

And no...i din said stupid stuff

I do agree to certain extent on the concern of such compatibility of the system in Malaysia.

But until we make a step to move forward, we will forever be standing on the same spot.

Yes...there are lots & lots to b done.

The Pilot Project is also aimed to find out the possibility of implementing the dispensing separation system & also to find out the flaws of the system, so that improvement can be made.

Hey fren, u might not visit enough clinics....based on my personal observation, i can say, roughly estimated 80% is hiring SPM leavers in KL ( my job requires me to visit private clinics a lot in KL...clarify 1st ).

Well, can't totally said it is wrong, but with shortage of qualified nurses/medical assisstant... i supposed they r forced to, although they might not b d best candidate

This post has been edited by kingkong81: Dec 13 2008, 12:26 AM

Changes are something inevitable through time....

Human change from time to time to move forward, to advance...

Those who embraces change and are adaptable would move forward...

Those who are afraid of changes, will be left behind...

@hypermax

Obviously my friend...if the TRIAL is a success..it wont only be confined to Klang Valley, and it also will not be implemented throughout the whole country at 1 go...

It will have to be implemented at stages...one place at a time... make sure each city is prepared..
That is how Taiwan did it...they started off in TaiChung, and slowly to KaoShiung, Taipei...etc.
And you and I know that implementing it at one go throughout d country is not possible...not all city are like KL, PJ or Butterworth...so, they have to slowly help other cities to prepare for this, while other cities will set as pioneer for others to learn.

Doctors needs 5 years learning, bcoz your job needs it, and deemed sufficient enough for you to go out & practise. ...so the things u learned r specialise on diagnosis, treatment...

Pharmacist needs 4 yrs learning, it is also bcoz our job needs it...in such duration that are deemed sufficient. And the things we learned are specialised in drugs...

I do not see that the difference in years on learning or even lecture hours make doctors more superior than others pharmacist, nurse, engineer, etc). It is after all, we are learnin almost different things!

If you think doctors learn more than anyone else...then be more humble...

I dun c the needs of doctors belittled pharmacists & pharmacists degrading the doctors...get over with it. We will never move on like that...this is sometimes so meaningless...in the end, both side lose out

This post has been edited by kingkong81: Dec 18 2008, 09:08 PM

Part of reason given by doctors for not willing to write the name of the medicine on the label is bcoz they do not want the patient to self-medicate themselves. The other main reason is they wan the patient to come back only to them to get d medicine, coz only they know wat hav been given out.

If the patient itself also dunno wat medicine they are taking wat happened when their medicine finished up and they can't buy from other pharmacies or clinics because they also dunno wat is the name of d medicines they are taking!!! If the name of medicine is on the label itself, at least they can bring the label over.

It has been on numerous occasion that petient come bringing a bag juz labeled 'muntah', 'angin', and asking for the same medicines...and d only info we have is juz the outlook of d tablet itself & also from d written indication on d bag...if its simple condition like diarrhea or stomachache its easy, we can still recommend other brand... how about when it comes to other more serious conditions like hypertension, etc..we juz cant simply choose one n give it to them! And FYI, a lot of patients actually mix all their medicine in d same bag...

The new regulations that stop the 'loose tablet' packaging and require manufacturers to switch to blister pack is for this purpose. It will b much easier to identify it...at least if the clinic did not write the name of d medicine, they still can find it on the blister pack itself.

I myself do not like to be an uninformed patient myself...most patient actually stop taking medicines bcoz they dunno wat medicines they are taking.

I've seen these a lot of times:
"wat medicines r u taking?"
"wat is the name of the medicines...do u know?"

"no...i only have a white bag with 'flu' written on it...but i forgot that i might have mixed up my blood pressure medicines in d same bag."