Lack of efficiency the reason for graduate pharmacists’ problems

I REFER to the letter “Selection issue for contract pharmacists” (The Star, April 17) and other previous reports and letters on the predicament of hundreds of new graduate pharmacists in this country.

I believe the Health Ministry would certainly not deny the fact that there are loopholes in the system of selecting permanent pharmacists for the government sector.

I can confirm that the selection procedure depends entirely on one’s luck. Each medical (hospitals, clinics, stores, wards, counters and etc.) training facility and preceptors gauge their provisionally registered pharmacists (PRP) differently and sometimes not on their true efficiency or capabilities, as the Health Ministry claims.

I would like to share my experience of efficiency in the civil service. In 1978, I was appointed as a technician in the Public Works Department (JKR) after I completed my MCE (now SPM) examination. I had zero technical knowledge and was assigned to work with senior technicians who were diploma holders. I was sent for some short practical technical courses to attain further knowledge.

Within a year of my employment, my knowledge was as good if not better than those with a diploma from a recognised university, and I was teaching our new recruits the tricks of the trade.

Efficiency is a virtue that one acquires over time, and it is a learning process that never ends. Twenty-five years later, I was appointed to the post of assistant engineer and retired as one even though I never stepped into a university to obtain any formal tertiary education.

Even the Board Of Engineers, a recognised authority and professional body, appointed and certified me and my colleagues as inspectors of work. Don’t get me wrong, but I do honour and respect all those who work hard to obtain their basic degrees, masters and even doctorates. But I think you get the point I am trying to stress here.

The Health Minister’s statement in reply to a letter from a disappointed pharmacist said that it was not the responsibility of the ministry to employ all pharmaceutical graduates.

This, to me, sounds irresponsible or immature. The current situation of oversupply of pharmacist graduates could not have happened overnight.

Whatever the reason for the implementation of this policy in December 2016, it should only be applicable for fresh applicants enrolling for the Undergraduate Pharmacist Course after December 2016 so that students would know what they are really getting into.

It should not have any binding effects on the pharmacists who graduated in September 2016 or before December 2016. As has been the age-old practice, absorbing all pharmacists and doctors into the civil service is a procedure that should still be practised, unless they wish to opt out.

Medical graduates are generally expected to serve in the civil service, which has been the largest employer of such graduates worldwide. Anything else would have a negative effect, and this should be seriously considered before making any drastic policy changes.

The Health Ministry should take full responsibility and do justice for the pharmacists who were not appointed by giving them another chance.

We had hoped for a new Malaysia with the Pakatan government under the leadership of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and we hope to see some positive changes for these unlucky pharmacists.

They are in shock and depressed at finding that after putting in so much effort to complete their studies, the government of the day only picks a lucky few for gainful employment.

DISAPPOINTED PARENT Ipoh