The role of the pharmacist
n interview with Tinna Ko, a registered pharmacist with a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmacy Practice. At the time of the interview, she was working at John Savory Ltd in Auckland.
Miss Ko says most people have misconceptions about the role of pharmacists and as a result their skills can be under-utilised. She feels the public perceives pharmacists merely as medication dispensers, but they do much more than that.
One of the primary functions of a pharmacist is to oversee a client's medicine record. When they receive a client's prescription, the pharmacist will first check the history of that person to ensure the medication will be safe for them.
They also make sure clients are not taking other medications that might compromise or complicate the effects of their medication. Miss Ko is quick to point out, however, that pharmacies do not share client medicine records with other pharmacies, so it is very important to stay with the same pharmacy to ensure accurate and up to date information.
Miss Ko also encourages clients to keep a record of their own medication history, especially when they are visiting after-hours doctors. A person's regular GP will not include after hours consultation notes, and this could lead to possible complications and allergies to medications.
Pharmacists keep up to date with medication subsidies
Pharmacists get regular updates regarding medication subsidies from the Government, enabling them to help clients with cheaper medication options.Miss Ko says sometimes doctors don't have the most up to date information on medication subsidies.
Support for people with multiple prescriptions
She says families should be aware that if they are given 20 prescriptions over the course of one year (1 Feb to 31 Jan), they can apply for a subsidy to cover the $3 cost of further prescriptions.
Pharmacists provide additional support for clients who have multiple prescriptions. This can be done by using convenient packaging, such as making it easy for clients to organise their medication into nights, days or quantities. You can talk to your pharmacist about this at any time.
Pharmacists oversee the medicine as soon as it is being dispensed. They check the date and make sure it is the right type of medication that you have been prescribed.
If you have any questions regarding side effects they are there to assist you. If you would like to save a bit of money when you have cold or flu you can also go to pharmacist to get help and they will let you know what medicine can help you to elevate the sickness.
Help for new immigrants
What if you are a new migrant looking for a similar medicine in New Zealand to that which you had overseas?
Every pharmacy has information on different types of medicines. If you can show them the original package your medicines came in, they might be able to help you access them here. They can provide options to that medicine, too, if the same one can't be sourced.
Side effects of medicines
Many people worry about the side effect of medications. But Miss Ko explains most side effects only affect 10% of the total population, and may be different from one person to another. This information is based on side effects found during drugs trials.
She also reminds people they need to be cautious when seeking information from the internet, as much of it has not been verified. The best way to be sure is to consult with a professional.
Fears over western medicine unwarranted
Many Chinese people do not like taking western medicines as they believe they may accumulate toxins in the body. According to Miss Ko, this is absolutely not true. She says it is important to note there are no studies that have been done to prove Chinese medicine does not accumulate toxins in the body.
When people are deciding to take medication, they should consider the consequence of not taking it, and whether their concerns outweigh their health outcomes, rather than whether it is a western or eastern medicine. For someone taking medicine for a heart condition, for example, the consequences of not taking the medicine could be devastating.
Another issue with Chinese medicines, is that they don't come in regulated dosages or with any strong scientific evidence base, in the way that Western medicine do - so people taking Chinese medicines cannot be sure of their effectiveness.
Miss Ko is not saying not to use Chinese herbal medications. However ,if you decide to use them, the most important thing is to talk to your doctor or pharmacist first to get all the information you need before you decide what would be best for you.
Pharmacology and CBT for depression
For people who experience mental illnesses, such as depression, this is often because their brain is lacking in certain chemicals, like serotonin, which affects mood and thinking.
Taking anti-depressants can help to balance brain chemistry. However, Miss Ko says it is very important to remember the medication can only do so much. She says the anti-depressants only kick starts the brain to release the chemicals and, like a car, once it is going it will need to be maintained in order to run smoothly.
For this reason, she highly recommends CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) for anyone who experiences depression to maintain their wellness. They should also consider asking for support from family and friends.
Asian pharmacists abound
There are many Asian people working as pharmacists in Auckland. If your first language is Mandarin or Cantonese, look around and you might find one of the pharmacies employs someone who can speak your language and provide you the information you needed.
Be aware that all pharmacists are obligated to maintain the privacy of their clients. This means they will not pass on any of your information to any other organization or person, unless it is at your request. The information they have is to better support and assist you to optimize the outcome of the medication and your health.
