The Good Pharmacist

THE letter you published on 21 June 2012, on pg 15 has spurred me to write to you with my observations on the said matter of pharmacists.

Indeed, the writer was correct. I would like to add by illustrating what I have experienced with one pharmacist from Zambia. He is so different and really I commend him.One day he walked into our Pharmacist’s Assistant class and jokingly asked us all to write a 400 word essay on, ‘why I would like to be a pharmacist’. Little did we know that in fact he was going to send our essays to Catalonia, Spain. Four of the best essays were subsequently selected and the fortunate students received scholarships to pursue a degree program.Can you imagine, he even paid passport fees for all the four students from his pocket! I have never seen any foreign pharmacist, including those the writer mentioned who are getting ‘fat salaries’ do that. So selfless is this Zambian who by then was Principal Pharmacist at the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services, it is a pity he resigned in 2008. These are the kind of people Namibia needs.It is not fair for foreign pharmacists to continue occupying top well paying posts while we wait for kingdom to come! Time has come for the Public Service Commission to critically look at giving these people new contracts.As I write, there is a witch-hunter; locals are receiving funny calls by people wanting to know who exactly authored the letter in question. I have been asked as well.Headhunt for a senior Namibian pharmacist like the Chief Pharmacist at the medicines control, please! Petrus ElagoPharmacist