@goodfella_rocka

normally, you can get more journals online because let say ucsi library subscribe to A provider, A actually provides access to multiple journals at a time related to pharmaceutical or chemistry or those just being general.

the reality is, imagine spending billions come out with a new drug.. but the new drug is not relatively superior compare to the exist one but you still have to get some of your investment back right. sometimes, it is not that "simple" as well.

a few articles do highlight the issue of false positive in screening for breast cancer (BMJ back in february) or even prostate cancer. back in march, news of big pharma company merging is the big news in most of the drugs journals recently. Pfizer’s takeover of Wyeth and, Merck proposes to acquire Schering-Plough. Lack of R&D productivity and patent expirations are the reason of these mega-acquisition. Pfizer and Merck are trying to make up for their loss of exclusivity and to refill their pipeline. some even say new drugs are harder and harder to develop nowadays.

just refer to the links below.

http://pharmacygod.blogspot.com/2009/05/i-...ge-medical.html
http://drugmonkey.blogspot.com/2009/06/pha...e-than-one.html

of course i have read more than those but i just couldnt remember where exactly because i do read a lot.

it is hard to find someone like you already into reading journals. trust me, none of my friends are into reading those.

@youngkies and jerk - I see I see.... Well the pharmaceutical industry is always developing and is super competitive these days. With technology getting more advanced, there's always hope for discovery of new stuff, though the way I see it, there's been some kind of drug or treatment (though not all promises 100% cure of course) for virtually all illnesses except for some like AIDS and cancer. But it's not to say impossible. That's why pharmacy appeals to me... there's the option of specialising in dispensing or continue on to drug research and development, though before you two slam me or anything I know that it's easier said than done, and drugs take ages to discover, develop and refine.

@goodfella_rocka

the way i look at it, more and more drugs are being discovered and so there are less and less chance something new could be develop from. to put it in simple words, imagine you are going to try to come out with something using benzene but other people might have try all possible combination (though it is not possible) but that is the problem i think the industry is facing. some drugs are effective in treating or controlling the disease but they just have narrow therapeutic index or serious side effects make it unsuitable for commercial usage.

apart from new drugs, they need to be affordable as well and drug patent intend for the researchers to reap the profit after their hard works are making new drugs expensive and not available in developed countries.

Whoo hoo! Passed all first sem papers. Moving on to the next sem smoothly now. Looks like Monash moderates the paper quite well. Average results of my coursemates are all pretty good. Lots of HD.

isnt pharmacy course in IMU din recognise by singpore gov?

pls reply me as soon

thx...

no..........

@ying hui

a lot of countries dont either. dont bother about it

This post has been edited by jerk: Jul 28 2009, 09:45 AM

@youngkies

i heard community pharmacists were removed from the national shortage occupation list(uk).any latest info about it?

i've no chance to study pharmacy.
i'm 21 this year and i'm still stuck.
i don't know what i really2 want.
kinda interested in pharmacy but my 2005 spm result wont let me.
i got 7d for chemistry,biology,physics and i'm not good in maths tho.
yesterday i have feeling that if i go learn all these subjects,the chance is still there.
today i dont have confident at all. :[

Have you considered doing Non-science related courses? You might excel there.

You are going to be having a LOT of trouble if you proceed into science-degree program (which include pharmacy).

...if you are really determined, you could try doing A-Levels in Science or take science stream STPM as a private candidate (cheaper, self study needed, further inquiries - go to the nearest District education office)...

@vanPersieXX

The MAC is reviewing medical occupations again in autumn 2009, and the Society says it can submit evidence in relation to pharmacists and argue for the reinstatement of other pharmacists, including community pharmacists and preregistration trainees, before the list is reviewed again in September 2009.

taken from : Community pharmacists no longer in shortage, says MAC
Wed, 17/06/2009 - 17:25


@Drumbass

where is your most important pre-U result? you didnt even mention a thing in your post.

---

Added on July 29, 2009, 2:06 pm@ youngkies

i would like to hear your view on the decision made by the pharmacist featured in the article.

http://www.jasonliew.com/2006/11/05/why-i-...st-in-malaysia/

---

Added on July 29, 2009, 2:08 pminformation about HELP-USM pharmacy program is out but i still couldnt find the total fees though. the only thing that catches my eye is "A pass in MUET with Band 3". is that even sufficient?

link - http://www.hict.edu.my/main.php?m=Content&op=page&id=372

---

Added on July 29, 2009, 2:10 pmInnovative collaboration to teach pharmacy in Malaysia

Cardiff University and Taylor’s University College at Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia have jointly committed to a long-term collaborative relationship to achieve a modern pharmacy undergraduate curriculum delivered at Taylor’s and a proportion of students from that programme coming to the Welsh School of Pharmacy from 2012 onwards. Those students undertaking the 2+2 arrangement (2 years in Kuala Lumpur and 2 years in Cardiff) will complete their studies to achieve the University of Cardiff Master of Pharmacy degree.

link - http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/phrmy/newsandeven...n-malaysia.html

are you kidding me. even cardiff and taylor want a piece of pharmacy now

This post has been edited by jerk: Jul 29 2009, 02:10 PM

if it was me, i won't sell it either. in UK, pharmacist can only prescribe trimethoprim for UTI and azithromycin for chlamydia, under specific specification as pharmacy services.

it is up to the doctor to diagnose and prescribe treatment for most bacterial infections, including ear infections. pharmacist in UK are allowed to sell acetic acid ear drops for outer ear infection, but anything beyond that (inner/middle ear canal infection), hearing loss, pain etc, referral to doctor is necessary for full assessment/diagnosis. i believe, none of the pharmacy do have an otoscope anyway.

in regards to selling medicines she used before, it is not appropriate either. if anyone can self medicate themselves, what is the point for doctor to go the uni for 5 years and numerous years of gaining experience. everyone can just google up their symptoms and buy the medicine from the grocery. i'm afraid we are not in that golden age yet.

who get the blame if self medicate went wrong? who will held responsibility if resistant to antibiotic developed due to misuse, if everyone can just go and buy antibiotic of their own choice.

also, pill? lol, he doesn't even have an idea what is the difference between pill and tablet. i have never seen any antibiotic comes in pill form anymore.

and his talk about studying 4 years vs. doctor 5 years? it doesnt matter. it is the content of study that matters. engineering take 4 years in malaysia too, does that means engineering can do architecture works too?

so as owning a pharmacy doesnt means they are entrepreneur either. it is about how you bringing the business forward. i have seen owners of pharmacies that are not happy work in their own pharmacy for full time, just because they cant deal with the stress of managing the pharmacy, but also being money-minded for every seconds.

---

Added on July 30, 2009, 3:09 amno.. cardiff + taylor. its better be good then. else it is so going to drag down cardiff reputation. btw, cardiff, it is a really good place to study.

This post has been edited by youngkies: Jul 30 2009, 03:09 AM

@youngkies

yeah.. i believe cardiff is a good place for pharmacy but i am quite worried that the stiff competition among private Uni in malaysia trying to lure the limited number of students interested in taking up pharmacy would eventually cause the minimum requirement to be lowered.

nah.. about the 4 vs 5 years i know it is just a rant. after you analysis, i change my mind of selling the medication as well. we as pharmacists wanted to help but we have to abide by a lot of legal laws. that kind of put me off.

well it is not always about legality in sales of medicine. I will not sell/give out any medicines if I am not happy with the transaction. I wont sell anything just because the customer/patient wanted it. I do it only when I am convinced that the thing I sold will bring benefit than something bad, used within the medicines licensed indication and intention.

e.g. some patient can come in and say they want co-codamol. upon some questioning, if I have doubt that he/she might not need it or probably abuse it or probably misuse it, I won't sell it, despite it is a so common stuff over the counter. Because if anything bad happened, next thing you know is, you will be questioned by plenty of authorities or get sued for negligence.

sales of medicines over the counter / dispensing, customer has no right for whatever they want, it is the pharmacist's right and judgement to hand out the medicine. the only thing to balance their right of obtaining a medicine, is pharmacist owes patient duty of care.

you wont learn this kind of ethical dilemma until you have really work as a pharmacist.

the same as dispensing, if you are not happy to dispense something according to doctor direction/prescription (inappropriate dose, interactions, S/E etc), you have the right to not dispense it too. if there is something wrong, and you failed to notice it or just dispense it because you thought doctor is always right, in the end, you share 50-50 liability with the prescribing doctor for negligence too.

Hi, juz curious about the salary of a hospital pharmacist...
May I know how much is the maximum salary that can be earned by a hospital pharmacist per month? And is it possible for a pharmacist to get a salary of around RM10k per month before the age of 35?
Thank you.

Segi College, Kota Damansara (WEBSITE)

Master of Pharmacy, 2 years local + 2 years at University of Sunderland, UK; September intake

Fees:
****

RM68K(2 yrs LOCAL AT SEGi)+£6800 each yr at UK
*in UK tuition fees should b 8300 ound but giving a guaranteed scholarship for international student abount £1500 each yr

@cutiesin

guaranteed? are you taking mpharm there?


@wyatt615

10k is kind of a little high for a pharmacist back in malaysia but i not sure if that is possible

gov hospital..........no

private hospital.......possible, if you get into management........which is unlikely at 35 y o

Fully agreed that to get RM10K by 35 years is possible in the private sector provided you are capable to climb to the management level.
Remember a lot of office politics hindering your progress overtaking the senior staff.
The higher the pay the greater is the work pressure. Another alternative is open a pharmacy shop(s) and be a boss. You are answerable
to yourself for the growth of the company.

i feel doubt to take d course at segi Mpharm
there is provisional accredited by Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

i scrared when i graduate there is not accredited
so m i need to cumin back msia?

i noe dat Master of Pharmacy, 2.5 years local + 1 year at University of Strathclyde, Glasgow; This programme does not qualify registration with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

dis is due to 3.5 yrs program

but nottingham is fully accredited