Ifoundme's Weblog

I don’t know why I always find myself in altercations with doctors. It has never been intentional and I have always been quiet. Although I am known to be a discreet person, I really can’t help but voice out my reasons when I’m being thrown with unsolicited (and rude) comments. I mean, there are nice ways in telling things. Why be hostile? Why be so arrogant? We all know that they are doctors and had actually reached the highest of the educational ladder but it isn’t an excuse to be rude. Try to see these 2 scenarios if I’m being unreasonable. Ironically, I haven’t experienced this as a nurse but, rather, as an entrepreneur.

Scenario 1: public bidding of medicines

They placed all the specifications that they want (which shouldn’t be the case because the law states that everything should be generic to prevent monopoly). One item placed was amoxicillin 75mL. when you check the PNDF (Philippine National Drug Formulary), there is no packaging of 75mL, only 60mL and 120mL. I told our agent to offer the prices of the 2 quantities (which are 60mL and 120mL). when the bidding was done and results were out, my agent suddenly reported that we had the lowest cost for such item but wasn’t awarded to us. I asked for the abstract and I saw that a certain supplier (let’s name this company MT) had complied (75mL) with the specs but with a price 4x more than our offer for the 120mL and what’s more ironic is that it was only MT who was able to meet that specs. I wrote to BFAD and inquired if there is such a packaging and if there is, I wanted to know the name of the manufacturer for future reference. BFAD wrote back that there is none and if there are such medicines being distributed anywhere, it is illegal. I requested our agent to tell the end user (who is to be named as Dr. Quack) that there is no 75mL packaging. I guess our agent touched the most sensitive nerve of Dr. Quack because our agent came back to me complaining about how hostile Dr. Quack was. Normally, with things like this, I have already presumptions of what is really going on. He is playing favorites. I took the “liberty” of being the chosen one to go to Dr. Quack and (knock the air out of his head) I was really positive that I will be able to draw a calm conversation since I always make it a point to be kind and respectful. I was wrong.

I explained to him that the BFAD had issued a certification that there is no registered 75mL packaging and that the purchase order should be awarded to us since the government will be able to save a substantial amount if we will deliver 120mL instead of the 75mL. More meds at a much lesser price which means they can use the money for other purchases of medicines. See the point? My explanation was followed with this:

Dr. Quack: Ako ang end-user. Ako ang masusunod! (I am the end-user. You should adhere to what I want)

Me: Kaya nga po kinausap kita kasi alam ko ikaw ang end-user. Sabi nga po, Doctor, ng BFAD walang ganyang klaseng packaging at illegal po yan. (The reason why I’m talking to you now is that I am aware that you are the end-user. Doctor, BFAD said that there is no such packaging and that it is illegal).

Dr. Quack: doctor ako! Wala kayong magagawa dyan! (I am a doctor! You can’t do anything about that!)

Dito na nangdilim ang paningin ko at nakasigaw na ako ng… (this is when I couldn’t take it anymore and shouted back with… )

Me: You are a doctor yet you don’t know what you are prescribing to your patients? You are the end-user but you are not aware about the law governing the procurement of medicines? What kind of a doctor are you!?! Do you want me to state which part of the law you are violating? Where does your supplier manufacture these illegal medicines? Under the bridge, doctor?!?

yes, ingles po ang sagot ko sa kanya kasi bumanat na ang 2,000 words per minute ko nyan sa sobrang inis ko sa pagkapilosopo nya.

may part 2 pa… kakain muna ako…