running a pharmacy

Running a Pharmacy

After many years in a dingy run down building on the first floor above a ration shop, I finally moved to my own premises. It was like heaven. There were no people queuing for rations and kerosene, I had a generator so the power did not go off frequently, I was not answerable to a landlord and his large extended family.

The downside? I had to hire staff. I could no longer make do with a single female jack of all trades. I needed a pharmacist, receptionist, female helper, physiotherapist, sweeper, watchman and a manager to oversee all of this.

The problems all started with hiring the pharmacist.

The first man we had was very religious. He prayed fervently as he climbed the steps to the clinic.

“Halleluliah! Praise God!” Then he said, ’”God bless you sister.” Every morning.

“Good” I told the manager, “he seems like a religious man.”

The manager was more pragmatic. “He is married with children. He was in the gulf but came back because of his family. Perhaps he won’t eye the women patients.”

He was a qualified pharmacist with a license.

After a few months the drug inspector came to the premises.

He could find nothing wrong. The pharmacy was exactly 110 square feet. There were no extraneous items (chocolates, biscuits, stationery

being sold). The man had a license so the business was legal.

(Most pharmacies in the town are run by proxy). The license holder collects a monthly fee  for lending his name and signing the register. The man behind the counter is usually a high school drop out.  Even then the patients have more faith in them than their regular physicians. They enthusiastically substitute medicines and change medications. They tell patients “you will have side effects. ” Some of them even dispense “emergency medication” and give injections. They are cheaper than real doctors. Treatment is quick, with no waiting.  It is surefire also, with a painkiller, a steroid and an antibiotic. 

Anyway the drug inspector asked me for a bribe. “Just a minute, why should I bribe you? Everything is in perfect order.”

He looked non-plussed. “Everyone gives me money. So you should too.”

“But everything is in order,” I protested.

“That does not matter,” he said.

“Just a minute,” I said. I pulled out my phone and started fiddling with it.

“What are you doing?” He asked.

“I want to record this. Everyone records things like this and sends it to the TV channels. “ I leant forward. “I think I will get paid. Just wait a minute though. I am not very expert at this. “

He fled from the clinic.

Soon after I lost my pharmacist also. There was a Rs10000 shortfall in the collection.  

The pharmacist was clearly seen on CC camera putting the money in his pocket.

We confronted him, he confessed and quit.

“Why did you do this?” I asked, “You know I have CC cameras.”

“I needed the money. God showed it to me. So I took it.”

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