สวัสดี [sah-wah-dee-ha] - Hello in Thai,
As I️ reflect back on my 4 weeks in 🇹🇭 Thailand, it was interesting to learn the similarities of the way they practice medicine, and the differences. For example, a typical retail pharmacist in Thailand must be able to diagnose the patient and dispense a medication based on their diagnosis. A retail pharmacy may be open without a pharmacist however not even OTC medication such as Zyrtec (certirizine) for allergies is available for purchase without a pharmacist present. We found their Hospital Out Patient Department (ODP) was most similar to our retail pharmacies. It was interesting to learn that alorazolam is a C2, where diazepam is not a control at all. A pharmacist must also be well educated in herbal medicines as the Thai people often use traditional Thai and Chinese medicine. All nurses are female, except those that care for high positioned monks.
It was interesting to see disease states not found in the U.S.A. such as TB and lepordsy. The TB hospital isolation rooms were setup to have negative pressure to keep health care workers from possible exposure.
It was very interesting to learn about the Thai culture. The temples are their most holy places and you must be conservatively dressed there. Your shoulders, knees, and heels must be covered. Buddhism is the main religion. Buddhas are not for decoration. Monks can begin their training very young in age, and the color of their garments can show the current status of the monk. For example the burnt orange, shows a monk that travels through communities and one that will mediate in the jungle. They can choose to leave or come back as they please and allowed all the technologies we are, such as cell phones. Some higher monks, are not allowed to be touch by a female. This would explain why there are male nurses just for them.
It’s unbelievable how 4 weeks has flown by, and I’ve learned so much. I️ know I will back to Thailand again in the years to come!
ขอบคุณค่ะ [khob khun kha] - Thank You in Thai,
Reesha
No comments:
Post a Comment