FeR

Someone rang up and asked about script charges. Apparently they were “ripped off” when they came in for their scripts last weekend.

Despite signs being put up since September LAST YEAR, some still come in, char soh sek kai pei (”pretending to eat chicken drumstick”) saying they didn’t know there were after hours’ charges.

Some argued with me, “Well, you’re open in the weekend – so it’s not after hours. You advertise as being open 7 days a week!”
I don’t hear you arguing with the doctors when they charge an extra fee on the weekends.

When I work weekends, I let most patients know in advance that there are extra charges. Then I get tired after a while.

You see, when I inform certain patients, their expression is as if I’ve just insulted them. I want them to be prepared when I give out the medication, not that I think they can’t afford it (especially when dealing with scripts for patients under 6 – they don’t have to pay for their meds)
When I choose to not tell them when they hand me the script, some would get upset that they have to pay for their medication – “I’ve paid the doctors next door – why do I have to pay again?” or “Why isn’t it $3??? You are ripping me off!”

You can’t win.
I choose to be a broken recorder and just tell every patient, “It’s the weekend and there is an after hours’ fee.”

You still get some odd ones which would just push you to the edge.

There is this one that LOVES coming in on weekends – she KNOWS that there is a fee but she likes to come in without her bag/wallet/money/card.

I tell her, “There is a charge because it’s the weekend.”

“Yes. $1, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s $2 extra an item.”
“$2??! Wow…it’s gone up. It used to only be $1.”
“No, it’s been $2 since last year.”
“Oh, okay.”

There were 3 items to pick up, so it comes up to $6.
She swipes her card and surprise, surprise. It was declined.
She looked puzzled, “Didn’t you say it was $2?”

(Of course I couldn’t show her this face – I had to smile)

“It’s $2 extra PER ITEM.”
“Oh – I’ll pay for it on Tuesday. Julie wouldn’t mind.”

Now I didn’t know if Julie minded or not, because she wasn’t there to say so. (I found out later Julie DID mind and I shouldn’t be letting her take anything without paying)

Tuesday rolled by and nope, she hasn’t paid.

Now a lot of people would think we’re meanies – but really. How many can you let off? I want to help but certain things are beyond me.
Would you be able to go into a supermarket, grab a loaf of bread and tell them, “I’ll pay you on Tuesday”?
No money, no bread.

Why do they expect us to give things out in advance or without payment?
Don’t get me started on SA number and giving out expensive items in advance (we’ve been burnt a few times where in the end, patient’s application got declined – who would pay us for the advanced supply of med?).

You can’t win, truly.

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Mom searched for my work address on the internet because she lost my home address. It’s pretty random because she did a search on the city (I think, if I heard correctly) name and pharmacy. Would be funny if it ends up in some other shop.