GREAT MEMORY FROM KUCHING 2007

This photos taken during Annual General Meeting of Malaysian Pharmacy Assistant Association on 4-5th May 2007. Full of credit should go to all the organizers- Pn.Khamsiah, Mr.Jong, and all the organizing committee. The whole programme and function was superb and profesionally done! I want to highlight here even we all know that it was already a year past.

It was officiated by Deputy Health Minister Y.B Dato' Dr.Abd latif and also attended by Pharmacy Director then Y.Bhg.Dato'Che Mohd Zin. The dinner was so colorful with lot of shows and good menu's.

Definitely it was a memorable one ! Congratulation to all Sarawakian's on the great occasion ! Here are some of the photos taken.

MAJLIS PERUNDINGAN PEN.PEGAWAI FARMASI

Hari ini jam 9.00 pagi satu sejarah telah tercipta dengan penubuhan MAJLIS PERUNDINGAN PEN.PEGAWAI FARMASI MALAYSIA (pada awalnya "Task Force").

Satu mesyuarat telah diadakan di Bilik Mesyuarat Melor 1, dianggotai dari beberapa bahagian perkhidmatan seperti PPF U40 Bhg.Perkhidmatan Farmasi, Bhg.Latihan KKM, Ketua Program & Pengajar Kolej Farmasi, Wakil Persatuan dan Kesatuan, In-Service Staff.

Saya rasa amat gembira dan bangga kerana setelah sekian lama yang diimpikan menjadi kenyataan iaitu untuk mengumpulkan semua staf-staf Farmasi dari pelbagai Institusi iaitu Kolej, Bhg.Latihan, BPF KKM, BIRO, Hospital, Kesihatan, Wakil Sabah, Wakil Sarawak, (akan dipanggil dalam mesyuarat akan datang). Suasana mesyuarat sangat harmoni, mesra dan proaktif.

Mesyuarat dimulakan dengan ucapan alu-aluan oleh penganjur iaitu En.Ariffin Sutan diikuti taklimat Task Force oleh saya sendiri dan kemudian ucapan oleh wakil Persatuan & Kesatuan serta Ucapan En.Muhammad b Awang. Majlis sebulat suara bersetuju menubuhkan Jawatankuasa ini sebagai satu Majlis Perundingan Pen.Pegawai Farmasi di bawah naungan Bahagian Perkhidmatan Farmasi selepas mendapat kelulusan.

Ahli-ahli yang hadir ialah : 1. En.Ariffin Sutan, 2 En.Jong Koi Chong, 3. En.Mohd Sani, 4. Cik Chuan, 5. En.Mohd Raya, 6. En.Muhammad b Awang, 7. Tn.Hj.Harun Husin, 8. Puan Faridah Saidi, 9. En.Mohd Nazri Mohd Esa, 10. Tn.Hj.Sulaiman Harun, 11. En.Rohin Daud, 12. Cik Rosefazila bt Rosli Lee dan 13. saya sendiri.

Jawatankuasa yang dilantik akan diumumkan kemudian selepas mendapat pengesahan.
Dibawah adalah sebahagian gambar-gambar.

PERSIDANGAN PEN.PEGAWAI FARMASI 2008

Persidangan Pen.Pegawai Farmasi 2008 di Marina Cove Resort, Lumut telah dijalankan dengan jayanya dan mendapat sambutan baik dari semua peserta-peserta dan penceramah-penceramah.

Tajuk-tajuk yang di persembahkan ialah : 1. Prepairing & Enhanced Quality Service oleh Timb.Pengarah Kesihatan Negeri(F) Tn.Hj.Ruhaiyem b Yahaya, 2. Pembangunan Kesihatan Primer dan Halatuju PPF oleh Pn.Sahidah Said (Ketua Pen.Pengarah Bhg.Pembg.Kesihatan Keluarga, Caw.Primer), 3. Update Profesion PPF oleh En.Muhammad b Awang (Ketua Pen.Pegawai Farmasi U40 KKM), 4. Occupational Safety in Pharmacy oleh Tn.Hj.Harun b Husin (Ketua PPF U36 JKWPKL), 5. Teknik Aseptik oleh Pn.Akmalyatun Kamal (Peg.Farmasi U44 Hosp.Ipoh), 6. Perolehan & Pengurusan Stor oleh Pn.Norul Adlin (Peg.Farmasi U41 Hosp.Seberang Jaya), 7. Pengujian Produk Farmaseutikal, Pengawalan Ubat Pasaran, ADR & Product Recall oleh En.Tan Ann Ling (Peg.Farmasi U52 Biro Farmaseutikal Kebangsaan).

Kehadiran peserta adalah seramai 40 orang. Satu kerja kumpulan juga dijalankan iaitu Expanded & Extended Role. Peserta di pecahkan kepada 4 kumpulan dan brainstorming session dijalankan. Tiap kumpulan menyediakan kertas kerja untuk 2 cadangan Expanded Role dan Extended Role. Pada ke esokkan harinya pembentangan dilakukan dihadapan Panel iaitu TPKN(F) Tn.Hj.Ruhaiyem, KPP Pn.Sahidah Said dan En.Muhammad b Awang, PPF U40.

Komen yang diberikan sangat memberansangkan oleh para panel dan TPKN(F) memberi beberapa cadangan yang membina serta sokongan baik kepada pembangunan profesion PPF!
KPP Pn.Sahidah juga menerangkan akan membawa usul yang dibentangkan kepada Mesyuarat bersama Pegawai Farmasi Kesihatan pada 8 November 2008 ini di Port Dickson.
Syabas di ucapkan kepada semua peserta diatas kesungguhan menyediakan kertas kerja dan pembentangan !

Di bawah adalah sebahagian gambar-gambar Persidangan PPF.

DOCTOR Vs PHARMACIST - Separation of Prescribing from Dispensing

THIS ARTICLE MENTIONS ABOUT OUR PRACTICE SYSTEM IN MALAYSIA. READ THROUGH...
(USA ARTICLE)
Separation of prescribing from dispensing

In most jurisdictions (such as the United States), pharmacists are regulated separately from physicians. Specifically, the legislation stipulates that the practice of prescribing must be separate from the practice of dispensing. [citation needed] These jurisdictions also usually specify that only pharmacists may supply scheduled pharmaceuticals to the public, and that pharmacists cannot form business partnerships with physicians or give them “kickback” payments. However, the American Medical Association (AMA) Code of Ethics provides that physicians may dispense drugs within their office practices as long as there is no patient exploitation and patients have the right to a written prescription that can be filled elsewhere. 7 to 10 percent of American physician practices reportedly dispense drugs on their own.

In other jurisdictions (particularly in Asian countries such as China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore), doctors are allowed to dispense drugs themselves and the practice of pharmacy is sometimes integrated with that of the physician, particularly in traditional Chinese medicine.

In Canada it is common for a medical clinic and a pharmacy to be located together and for the ownership in both enterprises to be common, but licensed separately.

The reason for the majority rule is the high risk of a conflict of interest. Otherwise, the physician has a financial self-interest in “diagnosing” as many conditions as possible, and in exaggerating their seriousness, because he or she can then sell more medications to the patient. Such self-interest directly conflicts with the patient’s interest in obtaining cost-effective medication and avoiding the unnecessary use of medication that may have side-effects. This system reflects much similarity to the checks and balances system of the U.S. and many other governments.

A campaign for separation has begun in many countries and has already been successful (like in Korea). As many of the remaining nations move towards separation, resistance and lobbying from dispensing doctors who have pecuniary interests may prove a major stumbling block (e.g. in Malaysia).

The future of pharmacy

In the coming decades, pharmacists are expected to become more integral within the health care system. Rather than simply dispensing medication, pharmacists will be paid for their patient care skills.

This paradigm shift has already commenced in some countries; for instance, pharmacists in Australia receive remuneration from the Australian Government for conducting comprehensive Home Medicines Reviews. In the United Kingdom, pharmacists (and nurses) who undertake additional training are obtaining prescribing rights. They are also being paid for by the government for medicine use reviews. In the United States, the Clinical pharmacy movement has had an evolving influence on the practice of pharmacy. Moreover, the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree is now required before entering practice and many pharmacists now complete one or two years of residency training following graduation. In addition, consultant pharmacists, who traditionally operated primarily in nursing homes are now expanding into direct consultation with patients, under the banner of “senior care pharmacy.”

LIST OF TOP 50 BLOGS ABOUT PHARMACY RELATED INFORMATIONS

Dear Pharmacy Friends,
This is the Top 50 Pharmacy Blogs taken from Nursing Guide Web Site. Feel free to surf and get the informations.
It is intended to let people know where they can go on the web to read daily posts about various topics having to do with prescription drugs and medications.

This list of 50 blogs is broken down into the following categories:

* Pharmacy Opinion Blogs

* Pharmacy News and Informational Blogs

* Professional Development Blogs

* Pharmacology Blogs

* Pharmaceutical Blogs

Each of the 50 blogs in the "Top 50 Pharmacist Blogs" article has a link for easy access. I encourage you to take advantage of this convenient "tour" around the so-called Pharma blogosphere to see what else is out there for you.

- http://www.nursingdegreeguide.org/2008/top-50-pharmacist-blogs/

POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND THINKING IS THE KEY TOWARDS PROGRESS & DEVELOPMENTS!

To all my Pharmacy Friends,

Talking about “Positive” n “Attitude” is something not in my capacity to discuss in general. I’m ordinary human beings as you all and not professional in this subject.

But anyway, I believe if anyone looking for success in career developments, one should be very positive in life, good thinking, attitudes and drive of winning mentality.

I would like to share with all of you regarding our planing to have a Malaysia Pharmacist Assistant Conference or Convention. I did discuss with one of the very senior Pharmacist Assistant regarding having a Conference for our profession.

You know what he said. He told me: “ why you all like to do big thing without knowing what is Conference”…. Then he ask me to just organised a workshop instead !
We are living in the world of technology, knowledge and advancement. There are no time to catchup with others if we are still slow in progress.

It may look un-organised for the very first Conference or Conventions, but only through the first step we can go further and make a better and perfect one. The very first step is the mother of all success ! Don’t you think that?

Most of the Junior PPF and some dynamic Seniors with vision in future, agree with me to have a conference and scientific meeting for ourself and organised by Association.

My friends, the number one enemy is within us. That is the NEGATIVE MIND ! If we already set our thoughts with negative things, nothing will come on our way accept luck.

So, please join hand together… have a very POSITIVE MIND AND ALSO POSITIVE ATTITUDE! PROGRESS WILL TALK ON ITS OWN !

MAJLIS KONVOKESYEN KSKB KALI KE-4, PADA 18 OKT 2008 DI PICC, PUTRAJAYA

Dibawah adalah gambar-gambar yang diambil semasa saya, Hj.Harun dan En.Nazri Mohd Esa menerima jemputan menghadiri majlis konvokesyen KSKB kali ke-4. Turut sama hadir ialah YDP PPFM Tn.Hj.Kamaruddin dan Mdm Puspa (Koordinator Prog.Farmasi,PNC International College, Nilai)
MAAF KERANA GAMBAR KURANG JELAS.

SEJARAH PROFESION PENOLONG PEGAWAI FARMASI - BAHAGIAN 1

( Ingin saya menulis sejarah berkaitan profesion ini supaya umum, para PPF junior dan yang hampir lupa dapat mengingatkan kembali asal usul profesion ini. Selamat membaca)

LATARBELAKANG

Profesion Penolong Pegawai Farmasi bermula sekitar bulan September 1957 iaitu sebulan sesudah Kemerdekaan Malaya. Pada masa itu latihan dijalankan di premis Sekolah Latihan Jururawat, Hospital Besar Pulau Pinang. Latihan dijalankan disana sehingga tahun 1964. Kolej latihan adalah dinamakan sebagai Sekolah Latihan Pembancuh Ubat. Pada ketika itu, Latihan adalah dijalankan secara teori selama setahun dan ”on job training selama 2 tahun”. Pelatih batch 1-12 pada masa itu diserap terus sebagai penjawat awam dan menerima gaji bulanan RM137.50 X 7.50 dan selepas latihan 3 tahun menerima RM178.00 - RM422.00 dengan elaun COLA RM52.50 .

Mulai Batch 13 barulah Sistem Biasiswa atau Elaun Pelatih diperkenalkan. Gaji PPF selepas latihan dulu ialah antara RM 178.00 - RM422.00. (Lain-lain Paramedik RM238.00 - RM528.00).

Pada tahun 1964, sekolah latihan Pembancuh Ubat telah berpindah ke Makmal Ubat dan Stor, Jalan Universiti (G.M.S – General Medical Store) dimana sekarang telah dijadikan IbuPejabat Perkhidmatan Farmasi Malaysia (Bahagian Perkhidmatan Farmasi KKM).
Latihan disini dimulakan dengan pengambilan pelatih pertama seramai 26 pelatih sahaja. Kemudian dengan pembinaan 2 lagi Makmal, jumlah pengambilan ditambah menjadi 120 pelatih setiap tahun. Di kawasan yang sama jugalah latihan Pembantu Makmal Kimia Ubat dijalankan yang kita ketahui kemudiannya telah di ‘asimilasi’ menjadi Penolong Pegawai Farmasi.

GELARAN JAWATAN

Gelaran jawatan sebenarnya didapati berubah sebanyak 4 kali. 3 kali secara rasmi dan sekali tidak rasmi. Secara rasmi, gelaran pertama iaitu Pembancuh Ubat diguna mulai 1957 – 1981 (ketika itu dalam bahasa Inggeris di panggil Dispenser) . Gelaran kedua iaitu Pembantu Farmasi dilulus dan diguna mulai 1982 sehinggalah 31 Mei 2008 dan kemudian mulai 1 Jun 2008 secara rasminya diubah sebagai Penolong Pegawai Farmasi. Tetapi ramai yang tidak mengetahui ada satu lagi gelaran yang diguna secara tak rasmi pada 1981-1982 iaitu JuruUbat. Semasa itu gelaran tersebut tidak diluluskan kerana ia kelihatan golongan Profesional. (Maklumat daripada Senior) Selepas itulah ia diubah kepada Pembantu Farmasi.

PERKEMBANGAN LATIHAN

Kembali kepada latihan. Pada tahun 1998 Menteri Pelajaran ketika itu iaitu Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’Seri Najib Tun Abd Razak telah meluluskan sijil latihan Pembantu Farmasi kepada Diploma Farmasi. Selepas penyediaan kurikulum, program ini dinaik taraf dan Bahagian Perkhidmatan Farmasi telah meluluskan nama diploma kepada Diploma Pembantu Farmasi bermula tahun 2000 (walaupun diluluskan Diploma Farmasi). Nama sekolah juga di ubah kepada Kolej Pembantu Farmasi dengan Pengajar dari kalangan bekas Pembantu Farmasi pertama selepas naik taraf seramai 7 orang.

"Walaubagaimana pun semua Senior tidak akan lupa akan jasa dan kenangan latihan oleh Miss E.L Leong , Pharmacist @ Pengetua Sekolah sebelum itu yang telah banyak memberi sumbangan dan jasa besar kepada Profesion ini. (Semoga roh beliau dicucuri rahmat....)"

Mulai tahun 2004, Kolej Latihan telah berpindah kali ketiga ke premis sekarang iaitu Kolej Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu, Sg.Buloh dengan imej baru dan penambahan Pengajar seramai 13 orang.
(Termasuk Ketua Program-maklumat sehingga 2008)

Kursus pula telah diubah mengikut sistem Universiti dengan kredit point dan pembelajaran semester. Kursus Diploma Farmasi mengambil masa 3 tahun dan dikendalikan mengikut sistem semester yang merangkumi 6 semester.

Empat semester iaitu Tahun 1 Semester 1 ; Tahun 1 Semester 2, Tahun 2 Semester 1 dan Tahun 3 Semester 2 dikendalikan dibawah Program Diploma Farmasi di Kolej Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu, Sg.Buloh.
Pada tahun 2 semester 2 dan tahun 3 semester 1, pelatih perlu menjalani latihan klinikal di hospital-hospital kerajaan, klinik kesihatan dan institusi yang di iktiraf oleh KKM.



Bersambung........ (Perjuangan Kesatuan & Persatuan, Kerjaya, Pos Basik, Pendaftaran dll)

ADAKAH ANDA BERSEDIA UNTUK PERUBAHAN?

Pen.Pegawai Farmasi kini sedang menghadapi "tsunami" kemasukan Pegawai2 Farmasi (PRP)setiap tahun dan ini telah mengakibatkan kebanyakan post-post PPF yang kosong dikebanyakan Institusi samada Hospital atau Kesihatan tidak diisi oleh Pentadbiran Farmasi Negeri masing-masing.

Keadaan ini kelihatan sangat ketara. Jika dilihat dari sudut positif, Malaysia akan mempunyai cukup tenaga mahir dan profesional di barisan hadapan di kaunter dan dapat memberikan satu perkhidmatan yang cukup informatif kepada pelanggan khasnya.
Pen.Pegawai Farmasi juga seharusnya menerima fakta dan akur kepada perkembangan profesion Pegawai Farmasi dan juga pelan yang disediakan oleh KKM. PPF tidak seharusnya melawan dan 'demand' hak untuk dispen kerana tugas itu termaktub dalam undang-undang.

Pen.Pegawai Farmasi harus menitik beratkan kemajuan dalam aspek tugas-tugas teknikal
dan berjuang hak untuk mendapat tugas tersebut supaya ia boleh di gazetkan dalam akta dan dikawal oleh satu badan seperti di USA, UK dan Kanada.

Jika dilihat dari sudut sejarah keatas negara-negara maju, Profesion "Pharmacy Technician" di Amerika dan Eropah berkembang sangat pesat jika dibandingkan dengan lain-lain profesion. Di Amerika bilangan Pharmacy Technician telah melepasi angka 250,000 orang. Pada 1996,Jabatan Tenaga Buruh Amerika menjangka bilangan Pharmacy Technician adalah sekitar 150,000 pada tahun 2006 tetapi bilangan sebenar Pharmacy Technician pada 2006 ialah 285,000 ! Peningkatan adalah dianggarkan 32% sehingga 2016. (rujuk http://bls.gov/oco/ocos252.htm.)

Berdasarkan sejarah bidang Farmaseutikal, kita juga sebenarnya sedang mengikuti semua langkah-langkah dan kemajuan dalam aspek pembangunan "Pharmaceutical-care" dari negara-negara maju. Mereka telah lama meletakkan Pharmacist di barisan hadapan dikaunter-kaunter dan kita baru mengikuti langkah tersebut.

Apabila tiba pada satu tahap nanti, keperluan akan meningkat kepada Pegawai Farmasi terhadap perkhidmatan klinikal yang tinggi dan kepakaran. Mereka mungkin tiada masa lagi untuk kerja-kerja teknikal yang remeh mengikut tahap pendidikan tinggi profesion mereka. Itulah yang berlaku di Amerika dan United Kingdom. Kerana itulah ujudnya juga pendaftaran Pharmacy Technician di U.K oleh Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain yang mengawal Pharmacy Technician disana dan di Amerika pula oleh Negeri masing-masing seperti Texas State Pharmacy Board, California State Board of Pharmacy dll. Di Kanada juga mempunyai pendaftaran Pharmacy Technician iaitu Pharmacy Technician Board of Canada.

Daripada pengalaman-pengalaman di luar negara dalam bidang farmaseutikal yang berkembang pesat, tidakkah kita berfikir pada suatu hari nanti semua PPF juga akan menerima pengiktirafan ini? Adalah diharapkan pihak pengurusan lebih berfikiran terbuka dan menerima ahli-ahli dalam keluarga Farmasi demi kualiti dalam perkhidmatan farmaseutikal.

Kesilapan kita memilih nama gelaran juga mungkin menyebabkan rasa kurang senang di pihak pengurusan tertinggi oleh beberapa pegawai tinggi disana. Ini secara tidak langsung akan melambatkan sebarang proses tuntutan kepada perkembangan profesion kita.

Sekiranya kita memilih gelaran yang lebih bersifat teknikal(Teknologis) dan bukan pentadbiran(Penolong Pegawai) iaitu seperti dalam post pertama saya- Pharmacy Technologist, kita mungkin dapat mendalami dalam bidang ini dengan usaha untuk mendapatkan hak kita dalam tugas-tugas teknikal. Pihak pengurusan tinggi Farmasi juga akan lebih lembut dan lebih berkerjasama dalam tuntutan kita.

Jika dalam bahasa melayu gelaran teknikal ini boleh disebut Teknologis Farmasi (Pharmacy Technologist) samada Diploma atau selepas mendapat Ijazah Teknologi Farmasi (Degree in Pharmaceutical Technology) dan Ijazah Farmaseutikal Sains (Degree in Pharmaceutical Science).

Mungkin ada yang akan bertanya selepas mendapat Ijazah tersebut apa pula peranan PPF dan di letakkan diUnit mana? Pegawai-Pegawai Farmasi pula tidak harus rasa terancam sekiranya PPF melanjutkan pelajaran sehingga Ijazah kerana satu hala tuju dan peranan harus disediakan dahulu sebelum menerima Ijazah tersebut dalam perkhidmatan teknikal Farmasi. Kita tidak harus "cross over" dan tidak "overlap" dalam tugas harian perkhidmatan farmaseutikal dengan Pegawai.

Memang mudah untuk ditulis tetapi untuk praktikkannya dan menyediakan satu kertas kerja yang komprehensif, rasional dan cukup justifikasi, kita memerlukan satu Jawatankuasa PPF yang mantap, kreatif, dinamik, pintar, berpengalaman,sifat tidak berkira masa, pemikiran positif, fleksibel dan komited kepada perkembangan profesion.


Walau apapun memang ini kelihatan satu mimpi indah seperti dalam post saya sebelum ini.

- think positive and work towards profesionalism

MY KLINIK- KK TAIPING (TYPE 2 KK)

PRESENTATIONS ON ASSIST.PHARMACIST PROFESION TO DATO' KSU KKM

This photos taken at 6th Combined Allied Health Profesional Scientific Meeting 2006.
Me, Faridah Saidi(U38 HKL),Hj.Abu Bakar(U38 Hosp.Queen Elizabeth Sabah) and Pn.Noraini (U38 HKL) together prepaired the poster presentation for this scientific meeting. Me and Faridah was asked to be the presenter. We got all the good chances to tell to KSU regarding our actual role and problems faced. We also did the last minute proposal regarding development of our profesion in every aspect.
GOD BLESS US !

PERJUMPAAN KHAS PEN.PEGAWAI FARMASI

Adalah disyorkan satu perjumpaan khas Penolong Pegawai Farmasi diadakan antara Kesatuan, Persatuan,Pengajar prog.Farmasi KSKB, Pengajar Prog.Farmasi di Bhg Latihan,Wakil BPF KKM, Wakil Biro, Ketua PPF HKL,Wakil Sabah&Sarawak serta beberapa cendiakiawan PPF atau Think Thank Group bagi membincangkan secara serius perkara-perkara berkaitan Pembangunan Profesion seperti skop tugas, kursus pos basik, pendaftaran dibawah akta, perjawatan dan networking, pendidikan lanjutan dan ijazah, expanded & extended role, skim jawatan yang bersesuaian, jawatan baru di Unit-unit Khas di Putrajaya (eg Bhg.Kesihatan primer, Medical Device Bureau etc), penglibatan dalam kajian, konferens tahunan kebangsaan PPF serta penganugerahan tokoh PPF Kebangsaan serta lain-lain yang difikirkan mustahak.

Ramai dikalangan PPF sangat-sangat tertekan sejak berpuluh tahun hingga sekarang dan adalah tidak wajar minda dan perasaan mereka terus dibiarkan tertekan dalam kehidupan seharian. Perubahan positif dalam profesion harus diberi keutamaan dan ini secara tidak langsung akan juga mengubah pembangunan organisasi secara keseluruhan.

OLEH YANG DEMIKIAN SAYA SANGAT BERHARAP KESEMUA ORGANISASI SUDI DAN BERSETUJU MENGADAKAN PERTEMUAN INI DALAM SATU BENGKEL KHAS DEMI KEMAJUAN KITA BERSAMA!

PHARMACIST ASSISTANT BATCH 25 - 1984

PERAK PHARMACIST ASSISTANT ANNUAL DINNER 2008

Pharmacist Assistant vs Pharmacy Technologist

To All Malaysian Assistant Pharmacist @ Technologist,
As we all know Public Service Department of Malaysia has  approved the title post of Pharmacy Assistant to Assistant Pharmacist (in Bahasa-Penolong Pegawai Farmasi) effective from 1st June 2008. Many are happy with the current development as it gives a better image of the profession but there are still others who question the rationale of using this term as it doesn't reflect our professional role and career developments in future.
I personally think that it is not a wise move to change the name of our post just because the Medical Assistants have changed theirs to Assistant Medical Officer (Penolong Pegawai Perubatan). Why are we always following others?
A Pharmacy Assistant’s job (in the west referred to as Pharmacy Technician) is a very technically-orientated post. We are involved in compounding, filling medicines, labelling, preparing mixtures, preparing extemporaneous preparations, TPN, TDM, CDR, procuring and purchasing, counter- patient management with or without supervision by a pharmacist in Health Centres. But we all know in Malaysia we still doing clinical work especially in community pharmacy setup in rural places where there is no Pharmacist.
Most of the duties of Assistant Pharmacist comprise a lot of technical undertakings nowdays while we still committed to clinical as well. Why do we choose to be known as 'Penolong Pegawai Farmasi'(Assistant Pharmacist) when we are really technical and part clinical staff(pharmacist cant deny we actually is still doing the clinical work). I have spoken to one of the higher officers in Pharmacy Services Division, Ministry Of Health and he agrees with my view.

I have also discussed this matter with Malaysian Pharmacy Assistant Association Committee Members, Health Ministry Training Division Staff, Lecturers from Allied Health Science College Sg.Buloh, Assistant Pharmacist from National Pharmaceutical Bureau and many dynamic seniors. They all agree that our post should not be changed to Assistant Pharmacist (Penolong Pegawai Farmasi).
So what is the most suitable name or title then?

After some research on Pharmacy Titles across the world in USA, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, I found that the most suitable name for Malaysian Pharmacy Assistant is Pharmacy Technologist. Why? Because in Malaysia our curriculum syllabus is one of the best in the world compared to other country. In UK, the course is only for 1 year with on job training. In USA the course for Pharmacy Technician is from 7 mnt-1 year with exam for certification(PTCB). But they also have a degree course in Pharmaceutical Technology and Pharmaceutical science which can lead to the post of Pharmacy Technologist! The Republic of Ireland is also running a similar course. Malaysia only offers a course that covers 3 years leading to a DIPLOMA!

The syllabus is indeed very comprehensive and tight with a total of 98 credit points. (To become a Pharmacist, one must complete 120 credit points in a Malaysian University). Hence our diploma course is close to a Degree in Pharmacy. That is about studies. How about the job description and the workload of the Assistant Pharmacist? In many places all the duties supposedly carried out by a Pharmacist is done by the Assistant Pharmacist.

Previously many Pharmacists prefer to be at the desk than to tackle technical or clinical duties. Only recently were there changes whereby the new Pharmacist is placed at the main counter and the Pharmacist Assistant doing the filling work and other technical duties. The role as front liner has been taken over by the Pharmacist nowadays as it should rightly be.

But the issue now is what are the prospects of a Assistant Pharmacist in the new era and in future? After 50 years, only now there is one professional Post Basic course conducted which is very limited chances to all Assistant Pharmacist!. Assistant Pharmacist feel they are treated as second class Paramedics because we are not respected and taken care of by some of the immediate officers. At the present there is a big gap between the Pharmacist and the Assistant in most institutions. But there is also a new generation of Pharmacists who really care and understand our problems.

Now back to the main topic. Choosing the right title. The staff from National Pharmaceutical Bureau very much awaited and fought the title to be changed to Pharmacy Technologist as they are fully doing technical duties there. Duties such as carrying out Microbiology Test, Quality Control, drug performance test etc is a technical job. For a Assistant Pharmacist (Penolong Pegawai Farmasi) to do this kind of job is ridiculous!

Every profession needs developments in its career. Therefore, the closest degree (apart from Deg.In Pharmacy) that we can apply now is Degree in Pharmaceutical Technology, Degree in Pharmaceutical Science and Pharmacology. It is very appropriate if our title is changed to Pharmacy Technologist in order to further our studies in Pharmaceutical Technology or Science. Don't you all agree with this? We can concentrate in our technical duties fully without interfering the clinical work which is the Pharmacists’ job.
At present we are sealed in our progress by being given the title of an Assistant which does not give us the chance to be a professional in the related category. To all concerned, think carefully. The change is still there to be made.

TOGETHER FOR OUR FUTURE CAREER DEVELOPMENTS!