A quality post full of quality photos of quality assessments

My colleagues did an excellent job of covering everything we did today at the bee farm, during our time learning about the Thai FDA, and at the visit to the local pharmacy. While some of us visited a community pharmacy back in Bangkok, it's still amazing to see how pharmacy works here, and all the drugs that are available without a script. Community pharmacists here definitely have some different responsibilities as they have to make on the spot diagnoses and drug recommendations for patients, and since many of them own their own pharmacies, they also have to have a good business sense. It's also impressive to see how the Thai FDA mobilizes their van units and public health officers to help ensure the safety of drugs, manufacturing facilities, cosmetics, restaurants, stores and markets among other things. They leverage a lot of pharmacists for this work, as they find them well suited for the job and the testing required. While our US FDA certainly employs pharmacists, it's interesting to see them in more visible front line roles here.

Since the narrations on our day have been so good already, I'm just going to add my photos as the rest of this post.

Honey products waiting on the shelf, either for us or Winnie the Pooh to swing by

The title slide from our presentation on the Thai FDA and their consumer protection activities.

Our stylish blue shoe covers during the factory tour

Good thing pharmacists are hand washing experts after all those sterile compounding labs

Touring the packing area, as we listen to our host

The quality control lab

This pharmacy is certified as having met the standards of a quality pharmacy, even before it becomes mandated by law 2 years from now, so they get a special sign

The various section of the pharmacy

Meeting with the owner/pharmacist and listening to the quality standards

The actual medication dispensing area

Gotta have that counseling spot!

A small sample of the medications you can get here through the pharmacy without a prescription. A Ventolin inhaler only costs $6 US!

Now it's time for today's Thai lesson: Going along with yesterday's theme of shopping and negotiating our word today is "Lot Noy." Again, you kind of elongate out the Noy part of the word. This translates roughly into "give me a deal" or "make me a bargain." It's basically a way of saying, help me out here, I want it, but it's a little too pang (just testing your memory from yesterday with this word!) Reesha and Sam tried it out tonight at the market, and it seemed to work at least a little for them!

Until later,
Amanda