COCA COLA - INVENTED BY A PHARMACIST !

JOHN S.PEMBERTON -THE INVENTOR

The world's most recognized trademark in the World!
It is recognized by 94% of the world's population.

The world has changed in many ways since pharmacist, John Styth Pemberton first introduced the refreshing taste of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia. However, the and simple magic of one thing remains the same - Coca-Cola. The name and the product mean so many things to hundreds of millions of consumers around the globe. Coca-Cola products are served more than 705 million times every day, quenching the thirsts of consumers in more than 195 countries in every climate. That's a long way to come after such a modest beginning...
May 1886 - Pemberton concocted a caramel-colored syrup in a three-legged brass kettle in his backyard. He first "distributed" the new product by carrying Coca-Cola in a jug down the street to Jacobs Pharmacy. For five cents, consumers could enjoy a glass of Coca-Cola at the soda fountain. Whether by design or accident, carbonated water was teamed with the new syrup, producing a drink that was proclaimed "Delicious and Refreshing." Dr. Pemberton's partner and bookkeeper, Frank M. Robinson, suggested the name and penned, in the unique flowing script that is famous worldwide today, " ".

1886 - Sales of Coca-Cola averaged nine drinks per day. That first year, Dr. Pemberton sold 25 gallons of syrup, shipped in bright red wooden kegs. Red has been a distinctive color associated with the No. 1 soft drink brand ever since.
1891 - Atlanta entrepreneur Asa G. Candler had acquired complete ownership of the Coca-Cola business. Pemberton was forced to sell because he was in a state of poor health and was in debt. He had paid $76.96 for advertising, but he only made $50.00 in profits. Candler acquired the whole company for $2,300. Within four years, Candler's merchandising flair helped expand consumption of Coca-Cola to every state and territory.
1893 - In January "Coca-Cola" was registered in the U.S. Patent office.
1894 - The first syrup plant outside of Atlanta was opened in Dallas.
1899 - Chandler's great achievement -- large scale bottling of Coca-Cola
1906 - The first two countries outside the United States to bottle Coca-Cola were Cuba and Panama
1915 - The Root Glass company created the Coca-Cola contour glass bottle.
1917 - 3 Million Coke's sold per day. " " is the worlds most recognized trademark.
1919 - The Coca-Cola Company was sold to a group of investors for $25 million.
1923 - The Coca-Cola Company was sold after the Prohibition Era to Ernest Woodruff for 25 million dollars. He gave Coca-Cola to his son, Robert Woodruff, who would be president for six decades.

Woodruff's leadership took the business to unrivaled heights of commercial success, making Coca-Cola an institution the world over. Woodruff was an influential man in Atlanta because of his contributions to area colleges, universities, businesses and organizations. When he made a contribution, he would never leave his name, this is how he became to be known as "Mr. Anonymous."

During the Woodruff era, Mr. Woodruff made a promise to the armed forces of the United States to supply Coca-Cola to every serviceperson. He said that costs and location did not matter, he supplied 5 billion bottles to the service.
Robert Woodruff did have one dubious distinction, he raised the syrup prices for distributors. But he improved efficiency at every step of the manufacturing process. Woodruff also increased productivity by improving the sales department, emphasizing quality control, and beginning large-scale advertising and promotional campaigns. Woodruff made Coke available in every state of the Union through the soda fountain. For all of these achievements he earned the name, "The Boss"

1923 - Woodruff introduced the six bottle carton
1925 - 6 Million Coke's sold per day.
1927 - The first Coca-Cola radio advertisement.
1928 - Sales of bottled Coca-Cola surpassed fountain sales for the first time.
1929 -
- Coca-Cola was made available through vending machine
The Coca-Cola bell glass was made available
1931 - The Coke Santa was introduced as a Christmas promotion
1934 Johnny Weissmuller, and Olympic champion swimmer, and Maureen O'Sullivan, a motion-picture star, appeared on a metal serving tray for Coca-Cola.
1940 - Coke is bottled in over 40 countries.
1943 On June 29, an urgent cablegram arrived from General Dwight Eisenhower's Allied Headquarters in North Africa, requesting 10 Coca-Cola bottling plants to serve American servicemen overseas. Eventually, 64 plants were set up during WWII.
1950 - Advertising on on the television began. Currently Coca-Cola is advertised on over five hundred TV channels around the world.
1952 - "The Big Beverage", the first novel about Coca-Cola, was written by William T. Campbell.
1960 - The twelve ounce Coke can was introduced.
1961 - Sprite was introduced.
1971 - The song "I'd like to Buy the World a Coke" was released.
1977 - The Coca-Cola contour bottle was patented
1978 - The two liter bottle was introduced, and during that same year the company also introduced plastic bottles
1979 - Fifteen hundred employees moved to the new corporate headquarters in Atlanta located on North Avenue. The new corporate headquarters came to be known as "The Tower."
1982 - Diet Coke was introduced in July.
1985 - The Coca-Cola Company made what has been known as one of the biggest marketing blunder. They stumbled onto a new formula in efforts to produce diet Coke.

They put forth 4 million dollars of research to come up with the new formula.
The decision to change their formula and pull the old Coke off the market came about because taste tests showed a distinct preference for the new formula. The new formula was a sweeter variation with less tang, it was also slightly smoother. Robert Woodruff's death was a large contributor to the change because he stated that he would never change Coca-Cola's formula. Another factor that influenced the change was that Coke's market share fell 2.5 percent in four years. Each percentage point lost or gain meant 200 million dollars. This was the first flavor change since the existence of the Coca-Cola company. The change was announced April 23, 1985 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at the Lincoln Center. Some two hundred TV and newspaper reporters attended this very glitzy announcement. It included a question and answer session, and a history of Coca-Cola. The debut was accompanied by an advertising campaign that revived the Coca-Cola theme song of the early 1970s, "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke"

The change to the world's best selling soft drink was heard by 81 percent of the United States population within twenty-four hours of the announcement. Within a week of the change, one thousand calls a day were flooding the company's eight hundred number. Most of the callers were shocked and/or outraged, many said that they were considering switching to Pepsi. Within six weeks, the eight hundred number was being jammed by six thousand calls a day. The company also fielded over forty thousand letters, which were all answered and each person got a coupon for the new Coke. Many American consumers of Coca-Cola asked if they would have the final say. When Pepsi heard that the Coca-Cola company was changing its secret formula they said that it was a decision that Pepsi tastes better. Roger Enrico, the president and CEO of Pepsi-Cola wrote a letter to every major newspaper in the U.S. to declare the victory.
Coca-Cola management had to decide: Do nothing or "buy the world a new Coke". They decided to develop the new formula.

1985 - July 10, eighty-seven days after the new Coke was introduced, the old Coke was brought back in addition to the new one. This was greatly due to dropping market share and consumer protest. The market share fell from a high of 15 percent to a low of 1.4 percent. This was said to be a classic marketing retreat. Coca-Cola executives admitted that they had goofed by taking the old Coke off the market. The Coca-Cola company's eight hundred number received eighteen thousand calls of gratitude. One caller said they felt like a lost friend had returned home. The comeback of old Coke drove stock prices to the highest level in twelve years. This was said to be the only way to regain the lead on the cola wars.

1988 - Coca-Cola was the first independent operator in the Soviet Union.
1993 - Coca-Cola exceeds 10 Billion cases sold worldwide.
1993 - Advertising slogan -"Always Coca-Cola".
1995 - Coke was consumed aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery -- marking the third trip into space for Coca-Cola and the first for Diet Coke.
1996 - The Summer Olympics will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, the home of Coca-Cola.
For more than 65 years, Coca-Cola has been a sponsor of the Olympics.

One great earmark that the Coca-Cola Company has is helping the people of Atlanta. They accomplish this through scholarships, hotlines, donations and contributions. Another large accomplishment that the Coca-Cola has, is being the first company to make and use recycled plastic bottles. One way to see all of the achievements of the Coca-Cola company is to visit the World of Coke in Atlanta. It houses a collection of memorabilia, samples of the products, exhibits, and many other exciting items. All of what has been said is the basis of what Coca-Cola was built on. Without societies help, Coca-Cola could not have become over a 50 billion dollar business. Keep on consuming the world's favorite soft drink, Coca-Cola.
Until the 1960s, both small town and big city dwellers enjoyed carbonated beverages at the local soda fountain or ice cream saloon. Often housed in the drug store, the soda fountain counter served as a meeting place for people of all ages. Often combined with lunch counters, the soda fountain declined in popularity as commercial ice cream, bottled soft drinks, and fast food restaurants came to the fore.

• The term "soda water" was first coined in 1798.
• In 1810, the first U.S. patent was issued for the manufacture of imitation mineral waters.
• The first soda fountain patent was granted to Samuel Fahnestock in 1819.
• In 1858, G.D. Dows invented and operated the first marble soda fountain, which he patented in 1863.
• In 1883, James W. Tufts patented a soda fountain, which he called the Arctic. Tufts went on to become a huge soda fountain manufacturer.
• On January 25, 1870, Gustavus Dows patented a modern form of the soda fountain.
• In October of 1874, Robert M. Green created the first ice cream soda.
• In 1903, a revolution in soda fountain design took place with the front service fountain patented by Dr. Heisinger.
________________________________________

More fun facts and trivia
• Coca-Cola can be used to bake a ham. Pour one can into the baking pan, rap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham has finished cooking, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coca-Cola to make a delicious brown gravy.
• Mexico and Iceland have the highest per capita consumption of Coca-Cola.
• Coca-Cola translated to Chinese means, "To make mouth happy".
• Every second over 7,000 Coca-Cola products are consumed.
• The tallest Coca-Cola bottling plants are in Hong Kong. The plant in Quarry Bay is 17 floors, and the plant in Shatin is 25 floors.
• The bottling plant at the highest elevation in the world is located in Bolivia, at 12,000 feet.
• The world's longest Coca-Cola truck is in Sweden. It is 79 feet long with a four-azle trailer.
• The best selling non-carbonated soft drink in Japan is a product of The Coca-Cola Company named "Georgia", a coffee flavored beverage.
• Coca-Cola first crossed the Atlantic on board the Graf Zeppelin, the German dirigible.
• The Varsity Restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia, has earned the distinction of serving the highest volume of Coca-Cola anywhere. It dispenses nearly 3 million servings of Coca-Cola annually.
• If the Coca-Cola company constructed a sign like the ones McDonald's uses to count their millions of customers, by 1983 it would have read "over 1 trillion served."
• If all the Coca-Cola ...
o ever produced were in 6 1/2 oz. bottles and placed end to end they would wrap around the earth more than 11,863 times.
o sold in 1994 were in 8-ounce bottles laid end-to-end, those bottles would reach to the moon and back 76 times.
o vending machines in the U.S. were stacked one on top of each other, the pile would be over 450 miles high.
o ever produced were to erupt from "Old Faithful" at its normal rate of 14,000 gallons per hour, the geyser would flow continually for 1,577 years.
o products sold in 1994 were flowing over Niagara Falls at its normal rate of 1.5 billion gallons per second, the falls would flow for three hours.

The Coca-Cola Company began bottling operations in ...
... 1907 in Hawaii.
... 1912 in the Philippines.
... 1920 in France.
... 1927 in Belgium, Bermuda, Colombia, Honduras, Italy, Mexico, Haiti and Burma.
... 1928 in Antigua, China, Guatemala, Holland, Spain, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic.
... 1929 in Germany and Spanish Morocco.
... 1938 Australia, Austria, Gutana, Surinam, Jamaica, Curacao, Luxembourg, Norway, Scotland, South Africa, The Virgin Islands, and Trinidad.
... 1940 in Ecuador, and El Salvador.
... 1942 in Nicaragua, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Iceland, and Uruguay.
... 1945 in Egypt, and Martinique
... 1946 in Barbados, Japan, and Okinawa
... 1947 in Morocco and Tangier
... 1948 in Liberia, Rhodesia, and Guadeloupe

What's in a Coke???
• Carbonated Water
• High Fructose Corn Syrup
• Caramel Color
• Phosphoric Acid
• Natural Flavors
• Caffeine

RESEARCH ON JOB SATISFACTION AMONG ASSISTANT PHARMACIST

Hi everyone,

Currently I'm very busy conducting a research on our profession with the title :

" A STUDY ON JOB SATISFACTION AMONG GOVERNMENT ASSISTANT PHARMACIST WORKING AT INSTITUTIONS UNDER MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA "

Job satisfaction has been defined as a pleasurable emotional state resulting from the appraisal of one’s job;an affective reaction to one’s job; and an attitude towards one’s job.Weiss (2002) has argued that job satisfaction is an attitude but points out that researchers should clearly distinguish the objects of cognitive evaluation which are affect (emotion), beliefs and behaviours. This definition suggests that we form attitudes towards our jobs by taking into account our feelings, our beliefs, and our behaviors.

One of the biggest preludes to the study of job satisfaction was the Hawthorne studies. These studies (1924-1933), primarily credited to Elton Mayo of the Harvard Business School, sought to find the effects of various conditions (most notably illumination) on workers’ productivity. These studies ultimately showed that novel changes in work conditions temporarily increase productivity (called the Hawthorne Effect). It was later found that this increase resulted, not from the new conditions, but from the knowledge of being observed. This finding provided strong evidence that people work for purposes other than pay, which paved the way for researchers to investigate other factors in job satisfaction.

Teamwork was believed to be an important factor in job satisfaction. Whetten & Cameron (2007) pointed that teamwork has been found dramatically affect the organizational performance. Effective teams have interdependent members, like geese, the productivity efficiency of an entire unit is determine by the coordinated, interactive effort of all its members. According to Whetten et.al, in an effective teams, members care for and nuture one another. No member is devalued or unappreciated. All are treated as an integral part of a team. Whetten also pointed out that effective leaders have the respect and commitment of the team members. That is they develop credibility (Kouzes & Posner, 1987). Establishing credibility and the capacity to influence team members are the first key challenges faced by leaders of the teams. Giving direction, articulating goals, or trying to motivate team members are all wasted effort if they have not established credibility and respect.

My research will be focusing on current developments in pharmacy setting in one of the hospital. The purpose of study is to findout the level of satisfaction, teamwork in the department and the morale of Assistant Pharmacist relates to current developments at pharmacy outpatient department and reveal all the problem that cause the stress and recommendation to employer how to overcome the problem findings.
The study may be beneficial both for the department and the employees. Department can benefit by knowing the employees level of satisfaction. And the employees got the chance to convey their dissatisfaction through this research for the benefits of the Pharmacy Department and Health Ministry Organization in general.

Design : cross sectional descriptive
Respondent : Assistant Pharmacist from selected institution(not disclosed yet)

See you again all friends.

Ganesan

WILL BE AWAY FOR POST BASIC MANAGEMENT COURSE

Dear Friends,

I'm very sorry for not updating this blog. Its due to my busy work at my clinic which have to prepare all kinds of reports and task as u all know at the end of year.

And now, currently I'm attending a 6 month Post Basic course at Medical Assistant College, Ulu Kinta, Perak (HBUK) starting 15th January 2009. I will update very soon with latest news and article.

Thank you for visiting.

ASSISTANT PHARMACIST REGULATION & REGISTRATION

Dear fellow Assistant Pharmacist of Malaysia,

I would like to highlight some of the important points for the developments of our profesion in Malaysia. To get some idea, I paste some infomations from a website which was in a powerpoint presentation taken from Canada Pharmacist Council regarding Regulations and Registrations of Pharmacy Technician.

Key Points (Powerpoint presentations):

SLIDE 1 :Considering Regulation

Benefits:
1. Enhanced safety overall
* More qualified personnel
* More focus on areas of expertise (Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians)

2. More time for pharmacists to provide comprehensive and cognitive patient care services.

SLIDE 2 : Benefits to Registered Pharmacy Technicians

* Role would be strengthened and raised to that of a regulated profession
* Clearly set professional standards of practice and scope of practice equals greater job satisfaction
* Increased professional status and recognition by the public
* Would participate in the self-governance of a profession already established

SLIDE 3 : Health System Improvement Act (Bill 171 introduced Dec. 2006)

Expanding Health Care Services

- Regulating pharmacy technicians would allow them to independently compound and dispense drugs, enabling pharmacists to turn their attention to providing more comprehensive patient-centred health care services with regards to drug therapy/care.

SLIDE 4 : Proposed Legislation

* New class of registration
* Title protection for pharmacy Technicians
* Council to include pharmacy technicians (phased-in process)
* Access to Controlled Act (dispensing/compounding) subject to terms, conditions and imitations

SLIDE 5 : Proposed R.Ph.T. Role Will Include:

* Confirm accuracy and completeness of prepared pharmaceutical products
* Check and sign off on technical accuracy of filled prescriptions
* Functions defined through College Standards and policies and procedures in the individual workplace

SLIDE 6 : REGISTERED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN will:

* Have standards of practice
* Have accountability and responsibility for their actions
* Be subject to complaints and discipline processes
* Be expected to keep current and participate in a Quality Assurance program

SLIDE 7 : Registration requirements

* Entry-to-practice requirements including:
education (expanded curriculum, accredited education programs)
* fluency
* practical training
* exams (knowledge, performance, jurisprudence)

SLIDE 8 : Accreditation for Pharmacy Technician Education Programs

* National educational outcomes approved (CPTEA)
* Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) to accredit
pharmacy technician education programs
* Preliminary Program accreditation possible for spring 2008

SLIDE 9 : Bridging Programs

* Some new learning for everyone (becoming a regulated professional)
* Needs will be varied (tech-check-tech)
* Demonstration of competency needed
* Flexibility of programs is important

SLIDE 10 : Moving Forward

* Maintain dialogue with primary stakeholders (pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, employers, educators, professional associations and organizations, government)

* Educate and update all stakeholders of ongoing progress (transition process, bridging programs, examination)

SLIDE 11 : Integration of Pharmacy Technicians in A COUNCIL

* Strategic plan includes “regulation and integration of pharmacy technicians”
* Two pharmacy technician observers at Council during transition phase
* Pharmacy Technician Working Group will plan transition planning process

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*
The duration of basic course for Pharmacy Technician in Canada is just two years, but for us in Malaysia, it is 3 years Diploma course with 98 credit hours. With a comprehensive studies and curricullum, we deserve a better recognitions and respect from all parties.
**
In the slide no 10, i had bold the sentences, as I find it is very important for us in Malaysia. This is another reason for the formation of "MAJLIS PERUNDINGAN PEN.PEGAWAI FARMASI" which was supported by all parties. (10 organisations)

A CHANGE IS KNOCKING THE DOOR ....

MASSAGE & RELAXATION THERAPHY

Posted by Canadian Pharmacy on Wednesday, December 5th, 2007

Massage therapy. Relaxation therapy
Filed under Depression


MASSAGE THERAPY
There are several different forms and traditions of massage therapy. (72) In the context of this article, massage uses typically a gentle manual stroking technique over the body (usually the back). This has a number of complex physiological and psychological effects, not least of which is relaxation of both the musculature and the mind. (72) A treatment, usually carried out by an NMQT, would normally last for 20 to 30 minutes and a series of approximately 6 twice weekly sessions would constitute a typical prescription.

Most publications relating to massage and depression were found to consist of anecdotal accounts and case studies. (73, 74) A recent review (75) of massage therapy uncovered only a few controlled trials. An RCT (76) allocated 122 intensive care unit patients to receive either massage, massage with 1% lavender (Lavendula vera) oil, or rest periods. Those who received the massage with lavender oil reported a greater improvement in mood as measured by a self-rating 4-point scale. The study did not involve patients with depression, was short-term, and used a crude outcome measure. It is thus not possible to draw firm conclusions from its results.

In a well-conducted RCT, (77,78) 72 hospitalized children and adolescents, half with adjustment disorder and half with depression, either received 30-minute back massages (n=52) daily for 5 days or watched a relaxing video (n=20) for the same period. Profile of mood states depression scores were significantly lower immediately after massage compared with pretreatment values (P=.005). In addition, the premassage profile of mood states scores significantly declined during the 5-day treatment period (P=.01), and the massage group was less depressed than the control group at the end of the study. Because of the small sample size and the short treatment period, the data are insufficient to judge the value of massage for depression.

RELAXATION THERAPY

Relaxation therapy is an umbrella term for several techniques primarily aimed at decreasing physical and mental tension. Such treatments may include elements of meditation, yoga, and other mind-body therapies. They would normally be carried out by NMQTs.

Three RCTs (82-84) investigating the effects of relaxation therapy were found. In the first study, 30 psychiatric outpatients with depression, all taking medication, were randomized to 3 groups. (82) Two of the groups were given different forms of relaxation therapy during 3 days, while the third group acted as a control. Compared with controls, both relaxation-therapy groups showed a significant improvement in symptom scores (P<.05). However, a symptom score list was used that had not been validated, the sample size was small, and the treatment period short.

In an RCT (83) involving 37 moderately depressed patients assigned to cognitive behavior therapy, relaxation therapy, or tricyclic antidepressants, the first 2 interventions resulted in significantly better mean Beck Depression Inventory scores than the pharmacological treatment (P<.01). The results should be viewed with caution because of the small sample size, lack of control for the nonspecific effects of attention from professionals, and reported noncompliance with the medication regime.

An RCT (84) in 30 moderately depressed adolescents showed that relaxation training or cognitive behavior therapy resulted in a greater improvement than no intervention. Again, the sample size was small and there was no control for nonspecific effects.

On balance, therefore, relaxation treatments are promising, but further research and replications are required

I HAVE A DREAM....

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
- MARTIN LUTHER KING JR

In one of his last speeches, King reminded his audience that "in the final analysis, God does not judge us by the separate incidents or the separate mistakes that we make, but by the total bent of our lives."
(My most admired and respected Politician/Leader in this world... and its truely happen now!)

To all my Pharmacist Assistant brothers and sisters,

I have a dream too. That one day, God will open their heart and eyes.. we will be noticed, our cries will be heard...our hunger and thirst of getting further education in this field will be rewarded...we will sit in same par with other paramedics...given important role in patient care and pharmaceutical care together with Profesionals and other paramedics...our education system will be better and have more Pharmacy Collegeous...we will have enough lecturers and more students which will fill all the vacancy in Malaysia...that our welfare will be taken care by those with noble and good heart... Belief me.. one day it will happen.

Dear friends, by looking ahead and following the progress of Pharmacy Technologist /Technicians profesion developments in western and USA, there is a very positive momentums and scenarios. We can see they already have a Pharmacy Technician Board, Code Of Ethics, Registration Of Pharmacy Technician/Technologist, Compulsory Competency Examination (every 2 years), Post Basic Courses, Technical Specialist Courses, Certification Examinations with Badges - Certified Pharmacy Technician Badge.. Proper Uniforms with corporate image...etc.

This will happen one day. There are alot of very nice and good people in Management. So dont blame everyone just because of one or two blacksheeps. Good moment will arise for our profesion. Just be strong, patient as we always do...and belief.

Association and Union will play their part, so as our newly form PPF Council. Lets all give a full support to all this organisations and keep praying.

GOD BLESS ALL PPF MALAYSIA !

MY FAVOURATE QUOTES :

* Love begins by taking care of the closest ones
- Mother Theresa

* We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop
- Mother Theresa

* Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new - Albert Einstein

* Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning... Albert Einstein

OVERSEA PHARMACY TITLES

Good evening all my friends. I would like to highlight the scenerio at oversea pharmacy titles for your attention.
There are more than 3 titles at USA and Republic Ireland those working under a pharmacist.

SUPPORT STAFF BELOW A PHARMACIST IN OVERSEA


1. Senior Pharmacy Technologist (Assos.Degree in Pharmacy Technology)
2. Pharmacy Technologist "
3. Pharmacy Technologist Trainee "
4. Senior Pharmacy Technician (Diploma@1-2 yrs courses)
5. Pharmacy Technician 1 "
6. Pharmacy Technician II "
7. Pharmacy Assistant ( 6mnth - 1yr course)
8. Pharmacy Aides (on job training)

Source : UTMB Human Resource USA, Republic of Ireland.

Those with a degree also can become a specialist in research such as :

Pharmacy Research Technologist

All this titles and job is available in oversea and if we check the trend in Medical advancement and developments, we always follow the west especially USA and Britain.
I'm very sure our sillibus is not created in Malaysia from the begining it was started. Most of our studies was inherited from British education system and sooner or later we are adopting their technology and system. This is happening also to our Pharmacist whereby they are in front line and we are now placed as filler and also dispense when necessary.

The title Technologist doesnt mean we work at a laboratory. In USA, the Pharmacy Technologist supervise the Pharmacy Technician and also Pharmacy Aide. So where do we stand now???

I still remember in 1998, Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka reply to a Union letter regarding the term Technologist and Technician whereby they define the meaning of Technologist as " a person who has the knowledge in a related field". It doesnt sound a person who do the technical job.

So lets think wise and do more homework my dear friends.
God Bless All.

LANGKAH BARU DALAM PERJUANGAN PPF

Salam sejahtera semua rakan perjuangan,

Sudah tiba masanya kita mengubah corak langkah dasar perjuangan dalam pembangunan profesion keseluruhannya. Kesatuan telah memainkan peranan baik selama ini dan satu usaha terbesar yang dilakukan selain usaha2 lampau ialah penukaran title ke Pen.Pegawai Farmasi. Walaupun secara peribadi saya telah jelaskan tidak menyokong gelaran ini.

Tetapi kejayaan tetap telah dilakukan oleh Kesatuan dan sekurang-kurangnya telah meningkatkan imej kita ke satu tahap yang lebih dari sebelumnya.
Pegawai-pegawai juga sudah mula menerima kita dengan gelaran baru ini.

Ingin saya mengolah kembali artikel saya sebelum ini berkaitan gelaran baru ini. Satu kajian yang komprehensif mengenai pro dan kontra pemilihan gelaran harus dilakukan dahulu lagi dengan mengambil kira sebab dan akibat serta mengambil kira hala tuju Pegawai Farmasi kerana jika kita mengetahui halatuju mereka, kita akan juga dapat menyesuaikan diri dengan perubahan besar yang bakal berlaku kepada sistem perkhidmatan Farmasi. Mungkin ramai yang baca akan marah terutama AJK kesatuan. Saya tidak akan siarkan artikel tanpa sebab munasabah dan selepas mendapat maklumat lengkap dari mereka-mereka yang berilmu tinggi.

Saya amat dekat dan selalu berbincang dengan para Pengajar di Kolej, Pen.Setiausaha Bhg Latihan, anggota HKL, Persatuan dan beberapa ahli-ahli dinamik PPF dimana mereka kerap menerima maklumat2 terkini semasa mesyuarat peringkat atasan. Pandangan saya bukan pandangan peribadi tetapi mewakili juga para cendiakiawan PPF dan bekas PPF yang telah menjadi Pengajar dan Pen.Setiausaha (BPL). Mereka benar2 kecewa dengan pemilihan gelaran baru ini. Ini adalah fakta sebenar.

Kenapakah gelaran baru ini tidak dipersetujui? Inilah persoalan yang semua harus ketahui. Kita tidak boleh mengelak dari hakikat bahawa profesion kita sebenarnya adalah kumpulan sokongan kepada Pharmacist. Jika dahulu memang kita berada dibarisan hadapan, tetapi peranan tersebut diambil oleh Pegawai kerana ia memang tugas mereka sebenarnya. Kita tidak harus rasa terancam dalam hal ini. Di Malaysia peranan tersebut sangat lambat dikendalikan secara langsung oleh Pegawai Farmasi. Maksud disini ialah berperanan di perkhidmatan kaunter bersama-sama juga dengan Penolong Pegawai Farmasi bila diperlukan.

Untuk makluman semua, dalam Persidangan Pen.Pegawai Farmasi Perak pada 31 Oktober lepas, saya amat terharu dengan taklimat oleh TPKN(F) Tn.Hj.Ruhaiyem yang banyak menyentuh pembangunan profesion kita sedalam-dalamnya. Beliau ada menyebut tentang kesilapan Pegawai Farmasi sendiri yang memilih gelaran yang salah iaitu "Pegawai Farmasi" yang mana menurut beliau sepatutnya memilih gelaran "Ahli Farmasi". Beliau mengatakan bahawa "sudahlah kita tersalah pilih nama, u all pun ikut belakang nama Pen.Pegawai Farmasi"! Menurut beliau gelaran "Pegawai Farmasi" sendiri mirip kepada tugas2 pentadbiran dan tidak mencerminkan tugas klinikal. Seterusnya beliau mencadangkan kita memilih gelaran teknikal seperti diluar negara sebagaimana yang saya cadangkan.

Ini adalah kerana sebenarnya kita dalam profesion ini tiada "HAK" sendiri terhadap satu-satu tugas atau kepakaran yang anggota lain boleh lakukan. Kalau dahulu kita pakar dalam penyediaan dan pembancuhan ubatan(Unit Galenikal) penyediaan I/V, penyediaan ubat mata dan telinga, penyediaan losyen dan krim/ointment dll, tapi tugas tersebut tidak lagi dilakukan kecuali untuk extemporanues atau persediaan seperti Mist.Potasium chloride, Scholl solution, Mist.Expectorant Stimulant dll bila perlu. Inilah yang selalu ditekankan oleh YDP Persatuan iaitu Tn.Hj.Kamaruddin "berkaitan hak keatas tugas dan kepakaran" dalam ucapan dasar beliau dahulu dalam AGM 2007 di Kuching.

Kita boleh mendapat hak tersebut sekiranya memilih satu gelaran yang bersifat teknikal. Seterusnya kita juga boleh mendapat Ijazah yang relevan iaitu Degree in Pharmaceutical Technology atau Pharmaceutical science. Ijazah ini memang berjalan di USA dan Eropah kepada Pharmacy Technician. Di USA para Pharmacy Technician yang menghabiskan Ijazah Pharmacy Technology akan di gelar Pharmacy Technologist!
Bilangan credit hours pembelajaran di USA adalah hampir sama dengan Diploma Farmasi kita iaitu 96 credit hrs.

Harus diberi perhatian bahawa pembelajaran dan gelaran jawatan mestilah seimbang dan relevan. Jika ingin menjadi Pegawai Farmasi, PPF boleh memohon saluran biasa yang disediakan jika layak. Kepada lain-lain PPF berdiploma bolehlah memohon Ijazah ini sekiranya telah diiktiraf.

Satu kajian dan bengkel boleh diusahakan untuk mengembangkan skop kerja yang mendalam dalam bidang teknikal terutama dalam TPN, CDR, Farmasi Bekalan Wad, RadioFarmasi, Perolehan & Bekalan, Home Medication Review dll skop dimana tugas-tiugas ini boleh dipisahkan antara klinikal dan teknikal. Jika gelaran kita pen.Pegawai farmasi, skop ini tidak boleh dipisahkan kerana apa2 tugas yang dilakukan oleh Pegawai, kita juga lakukan. inilah yang tidak digemari oleh mereka dengan gelaran baru ini.

Cuba bayangkan jika gelaran baru kita adalah Juruteknoloji Farmasi atau Teknologis Farmasi, gelaran ini merujuk kepada kepakaran dalam bidang berkaitan dan bukan pembantu kepada sesiapa. Kita juga berpeluang meningkat dalam Gred dari U29 hingga Gred U54 jika dengan nama gelaran ini (jika ada Ijazah dengan usaha mendapatkannya). Tetapi dengan nama Pen.Pegawai Farmasi bolehkah digelar Pen.Pegawai Farmasi U41? PPF telah di'seal' dibawah U41 dengan gelaran ini dan jika mengharapkan mendapat U41, kita harus mengambil Ijazah Farmasi yang mana kita tahu amat sukar memperolehinya.

Itulah sebabnya saya menyatakan kita harus ada 'approach' baru dalam perjuangan.
Kita tidak boleh lagi menentang arus. Perkara paling penting jika ingin mengembangkan profesion ini ialah kita harus melakukan sesuatu supaya diterima oleh Pegawai dan Bahagian Perkhidmatan Farmasi secara amnya dengan ikhlas hati. Sekiranya ini berlaku, apa-apa tuntutan kita akan menjadi mudah untuk dipertimbangkan.

Kita tidak harus sesekali melakukan sesuatu yang bersifat menentang atau memberi kesan negatif kepada profesion mereka. Kita seharusnya berada dalam satu keluarga yang mesra, baik, bekerjasama dan bersama-sama memperutuhkan perkhidmatan Farmasi yang berkualiti secara total. Inilah yang harus menjadi pegangan dan matlamat.

Oleh yang demikian saya berpendapat satu usaha baru harus dimulakan yang memfokuskan kepada hubungan baik antara Pegawai Farmasi dan Pen.Pegawai Farmasi dengan dimulakan oleh Kesatuan dan Bhg Perkhidmatan Farmasi.

Saya juga ingin menyentuh penubuhan Majlis Perundingan PPF.

Cadangan mengadakan Majlis tidak seharusnya dipandang negatif oleh Kesatuan mahupun Persatuan. Perjumpaan diantara semua organisasi yang ada hubungkait dengan profesion kita sangatlah penting dan menjadi media untuk berkomunikasi serta membantu menyelesaikan banyak masalah atau mempercepatkan sebarang cadangan pembangunan tanpa mengganggu perjalanan Pertubuhan itu sendiri.

Kesatuan dan Persatuan tidak seharusnya melihat penubuhan majlis PPF sebagai satu ancaman atau sindiran kepada tujuan penubuhan mereka. Seharusnya kita berbangga adanya Majlis ini dimana dapat kita bersemuka dengan semua PPF dan bekas PPF yang telah menjadi pengajar dan P.S.U di bahagian latihan.

Setiap perbincangan akan diatur dengan teliti supaya tidak menyentuh perjuangan pertubuhan itu masing-masing. Perlantikan wakil dari BPF juga tidak seharusnya dipandang negatif. Kedudukan beliau sangat penting dalam Majlis ini dimana banyak perkara boleh kita bincangkan dan perolehi maklumat. Beliau juga telah bersetuju memberi kerjasama baik dalam majlis ini. Sebagai pengerusi bukan bererti beliau akan mengawal semua ahli-ahli atau menyoal, tetapi lebih kepada perbincangan demi pembangunan profesion. Seharusnya dipandang dari sudut positif dan bukan melemparkan berbagai tuduhan negatif kepada beliau.

Saya sangat berharap semua PPF membuka minda dan berfikir secara positif masa hadapan kita dalam pengembangan profesion terutama dalam aspek pendidikan, karier, latihan dan kebajikan. Sama-samalah kita bersatu hati demi pembangunan profesion tanpa mengambil kira rasa ego dan pandangan negatif.

SAYA TETAP AKAN BERJUANG UNTUK SEMUA PPF TIDAK KIRA APA HALANGAN YANG DITEMPUHI SEHINGGA BERJAYA!

Salam mesra.

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/

PFIZER SETTLES CELEBREX DRUG INJURY CASE

Pfizer Settles Most Bextra And Celebrex Drug Injury Cases

Company Will Pay $745 Million In Settlements To Conclude 90% Of These Lawsuits

(Posted by Tom Lamb at DrugInjuryWatch.com)

An October 17, 2008 Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article, "Pfizer to Settle Celebrex and Bextra Suits", broke the news and provided the details:

Pfizer Inc. has agreed in principle to pay $894 million to settle litigation related to its painkillers Celebrex and Bextra.

The bulk of the settlement, $745 million, will resolve 90% of the known personal injury suits that allege the painkillers caused heart attacks and strokes, according to Pfizer, which will take a third-quarter pre-tax charge to earnings of $894 million, a statement provided by the company said.

Attorneys General in 33 states and the District of Columbia, who have filed suits relating to Pfizer's promotion of Bextra, will receive $60 million of the settlement; the remainder, $89 million, will resolve class actions alleging fraud in connection with the promotion of Celebrex and Bextra.

The settlement does not cover securities fraud litigation that has been filed in connection with Celebrex and Bextra.

Pfizer's Celebrex is the last among a group of painkillers called Cox-2 inhibitors that is still sold in the U.S. From the October 17 WSJ article:

"Pfizer stands by the safety and efficacy profile of Celebrex," said Joe Feczko, Pfizer's chief medical officer.

Bextra was recalled in April 2005 by the FDA and Pfizer. At the time, the FDA said it was the increased risk of serious skin reactions that was the reason for Bextra being pulled off the market.

Vioxx was recalled in September 2004 by the FDA and Merck due to cardiovascular side effects. In late 2007 Merck agreed to pay $4.85 billion in a so-called "global settlement" of all personal injury and wrongful death cases involving Vioxx use in the U.S.
- WALL STREET JOURNAL, DRUG INJURY WATCH.COM

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.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW PHARMACY DIRECTOR

WE ARE MOST WELCOME OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF PHARMACY SERVICES DIVISION, MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA , YG. BERBAHAGIA PUAN EISAH BT A.RAHMAN.

MAY OUR DIVISION WILL PROGRESS BETTER AND BETTER WITH POSITIVE INTERACTIONS AND HARMONIOUS AMONG ALL CATEGORY STAFF UNDER PHARMACY SERVICES DIVISION OF MALAYSIA.

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

DEGREE IN PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY IN USA

Today i went through a site which offer a degree in Pharmaceutical Technology from one of the college in USA. The total credit points of this degree is similar as our Diploma in Malaysia with 96 credit points.
Check this site : http://www.columbustech.edu/healthsciences/programs/pharmacy_technology/default.htm
Down here is the info I paste from the website.

Pharmacy Technology Diploma and Degree
(columbus technical college, usa)
Degree and Diploma: Pharmacy Technology is offered as an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program and as a diploma program.

Diploma Program:

Pharmacology is one of the principal pillars of modern medical practice, and your expertise in that area will place you at the heart of modern medicine. Your areas of expertise will include pharmaceutical calculations, sterile medication preparation, medical dispensing, medical terminology, and knowledge of medication interactions. Your computer skills will enable you to keep the accurate records necessary for quality patient health. The clinical practicums you experience will provide you the opportunity to study and practice your craft, while working side-by-side with and learning from practicing medical professionals. Your diploma will enable you to work at a trauma center, a hospital, or an assisted-living community. Your skill will also be in demand in the retail world, whether it is in an individual drugstore or a retail chain pharmacy.

Degree Program:

The Pharmacy Technology Associate Degree Program prepares you for employment in pharmacy departments in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, commercial businesses, and other related facilities. The program develops you academically and professionally with a focus on knowledge base, technical skills, and work ethics. The program emphasizes didactic and clinical instruction necessary for job attainment, retention, and advancement. As a program graduate, you will be eligible to sit for a national certification exam for Pharmacy Technologists. If you have completed prerequisite coursework, you can compete for summer or winter admission into this program.

Length of Program:
• 76 Credit hours for Diploma.
• 96 Credit hours for Degree.

Diploma Program Sequence
SUBJECTS :
General Mathematics
Medical Terminology
Introduction to Microcomputers
English
Anatomy and Physiology
Basic Psychology
Pharmaceutical Calculations
Pharmacy Technology Fundamentals
Basic Inorganic Chemistry
Principles of Dispensing Medication
Pharmacology
Principles of Sterile Medication Preparation
Pharmacy Technology Practicum
Advanced Pharmacy Technology Principles
Advanced Pharmacy Technology Practicum

Degree Program Sequence
SUBJECTS :
College Algebra
Medical Terminology
Introduction to Microcomputers
Composition and Rhetoric I
Anatomy and Physiology I
Introduction to Humanities
Fundamentals of Speech
Anatomy and Physiology II
Principles of Economics
Introductory Psychology
Pharmaceutical Calculations
Pharmacy Technology Fundamentals
Basic Inorganic Chemistry
Principles of Dispensing Medication
Pharmacology
Principles of Sterile Medication Preparation
Pharmacy Technology Practicum
Advanced Pharmacy Technology Principles
Advanced Pharmacy Technology Practicum

Last updated: October 6, 2008.