The Professional Journey of the Filipino Pharmacist

No curricular offering is easy; you have to work out with much effort to obtain that diploma. The BS Pharmacy program is not an exemption to this rule. With the rigors of the course to undertake, voluminous information to know, and chemistry skills to acquire, BS Pharmacy, undoubtedly is a difficult pathway. You need much time to study especially in the third and last year of the program-- a lot of exams to pass, quizzes to hurdle, projects to finish and courage to walk through. Let’s take a closer look of how it feels to be in enrolled in the program. Take note that we are following the curriculum of today, which is same through with our curriculum way back in SY 2008-2009. Also there may be variations of the basic and professional courses to take in terms of course title and number of units, as per discretion of the school. Nevertheless, basic requirements set by CHED is similar all throughout, hence a standardized unified program is expected.

In your first year, general education courses are common. This include English, Filipino, Philosophy, PE and theology. History and Orientation to Pharmacy, Public Health, Pharmaceutical Botany may be the only professional courses expected here. The first year is mostly introductory, so the level of competency required is superficial. You should be able to familiarize yourself with basic terms in pharmacy, parts of a prescription, drug definition according to official compendia, common herbal plants, basic diseases and so on. Most of your time is spent having fun, getting to know one another, sleeping and knowing your school better. If you do your task well and don’t get distracted, you may easily pass this year.

Second year is spent doing laboratory works. This is when Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Dosage Form and Drug Delivery Systems come in. You also have to ready yourself with some real theoretical calculations in Inorganic and Organic Chemistry and dose calculations in Pharmaceutical Calculations. You should really own a calculator and periodic table for it will help you get a long way. Listen attentively to your instructors, take note, participate in class discussions, cooperate in group tasks and finish requirements ahead of the deadline. When it comes to being responsible, second year is the foundation. Enough with adjustment period, limit your time in entertainment activities and start getting serious to prepare you for the next level. Did I forgot to mention Anatomy and Physiology and also Zoology? Be ready with anatomical dissection, get that bone and muscle working!

Third year is when a lot of brain works and where your mental faculties are severely tested. You wish a 25^th hour for the da-- too much things to know at a fast pace. Most of the professional courses are embedded in this year. You will definitely have a love-hate relationship with Pharmacognosy and Plant Chemistry, Microbiology and Parasitology, Physical Pharmacy, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, Hospital and Manufacturing Pharmacy, Organic and Inorganic Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology and Therapeutics and other hifalutin Pharmacy professional courses. As their fancy name dictates, a lot of coursework and contact hours, determination and patience is needed. You need a full dose of coffee to keep you awake at night, but keep the palpitation side effect minimal. You need a formulation of grit, perseverance, faith and effort in equal quantities as needed to pass all your third year level subjects. It will be real struggle, some of whom will fail and quit then shifts to another program. Some will give up in the middle of the semester, dropping all there is. Some, with all measures and might, still fail. While others especially those gifted with academic intellect, will get by with ease and they are mostly hated by the class. The average Juan with the right amount of attitude and self-discipline will pass and get promoted to the final year.

The final year is a triumph. The amount of workload has diminished significantly compared to the previous year. You can rest a little and think of nothing but thesis/ research work. The professional courses here are difficult, but manageable. You were already exposed to a good deal of suffering in third year, in which you survived, how could you not this time? It’s that achievable to say the least. Clinical Pharmacy, Toxicology, Pharmacology 2, Pharmacy Administration and Management, Basic Accounting and major internship training are part of the final year. Given your strong adaptation evident by having reaching this far, you will surely finish the race in no time, provided that your desire to graduate has not ceased. The thesis part will be most of your worry especially if research advisers are not available and you are working on your own. It will be a real struggle since most students receive no basic training in this field. We were only thought of the parts of the research, but doing it is a major dilemma. Other than that, off you go sailing in the violet ocean full of drugs and health knowledge.

Having a solid foundation of the courses taken painstakingly for 4 years, you are now in the proper disposition to conquer the board exams. There is not a need to attend review centers if you really are prepared (I have not enrolled in review programs). Confidently, having high hopes and aspirations, seat for 2 days on that prepared 600 questions. Three to five days after, results are out and pray hard that your name will be on that list. After passing, you can now affix that RPh symbol on your name. You deserve that three letter extension; you have worked hard for it so wear it proudly.

Passing the board exams is not the end all and be all of this game, it will just be the beginning of your professional journey. Sometimes you will question why you took this hard path when very little respect and recognition is given to pharmacists by the lay people in the community. Most, even your family members, will think of you as glorified salesperson doing nothing but count pills and give (dispense) drugs. This is the community’s view for retail pharmacist. Of course, there are other areas of practice such as clinical, manufacturing/industrial, academe and research side but all too often are overlooked. The public are mostly aware of pharmacists working in the drugstore serving them with their needed medicine without much counseling. In fact some stores do not even have the physical presence of a pharmacist, where their license are hung or displayed only. Given the professional knowledge and expertise bestowed upon us, it is our duty to exercise with utmost diligence our responsibilities. We are doing a great disservice to the community if we are only there to dispense drugs. I am aware that we are only responding to social and business pressures since the current situation does not really allow us to have more time for patient interactions. But we can still contribute something by doing our job well. It is high time to highlight and assert our roles as member of the healthcare team so as to uplift our image.

The Philippine Pharmacists Association has issued a public declaration of our commitment to public health and safety. “With the new Pharmacy Law, RA 10918, the scope of practice in the law expands the practice of the pharmacist to include services that will directly benefit patients and populations such as clinical pharmacy services, drug information service, patient medication counseling, health promotion and safe administration of selected adult vaccines to name a few.”

With the concerted effort of our leaders for the advancement of pharmacy practice and our collective individual commitment towards quality healthcare delivery, change in the profession is coming. We are actively hoping that one day, Filipinos will see the pharmacist as partners in health accorded with the same dignity and respect as that of other fellow healthcare professionals. One day the practice will be similar to that of other advance nations where pharmacist are true health professionals.