Saturday, 2 March 2013

No drinking water here!


Are pharmacies obliged to provide drinking water? Sometimes, I get random ppl coming in from the doctor's surgery asking for a cup of water (not to buy). And then when I say we don't provide drinking water, they get angry and say why? 

Reasons:
1. We don't have plastic cups. I use my own ceramic YAZ cup for drinking and I don't want to share it with randoms who come in. Plastic cups are also not "green". If you have a drink bottle, I'll be happy to fill it up for you. But not gonna provide a plastic cup for ppl who only take one sip out of it. 

2. We don't have a liquor licence. We're a pharmacy, we don't sell food, we don't selll drinks (some do but not all). 

3. There's a convenience store right next door, go buy your water there. 

4. I don't think you need to take your meds right this instance. You can go home and take it there. Ppl often come in and say "omg I need to take this now im so sick!" and pops some Amoxil capsules in their mouth and then want water. Antibiotics won't relieve you of ur infection straight away, so it makes no difference if u take it in ur pharmacy or take it at home.

5. They are not buying things from my pharmacy and want some water whilst waiting to see the doctor. I don't have a water dispenser in my pharmacy, neither does the doctor's surgery. So why do ppl get angry at me for not providing water and they're alright with the doctor's surgery not providing water. Maybe it would be considerate of the facility to put a water dispenser and provide free drinking water for their patients in the wait room, rather than them coming to my pharmacy and asking for some. 

Water is free. I have no problem providing water but I only have a tap not a water dispenser so very inconvenient to provide drinking water. Ppl have to understand not all businesses are obliged to have drinking water. Go-lo doesn't. Woolies doesn't. Pharmacies are legally obliged to have distilled water to mix syrups and make extemporanous preparations. Not water to wash down a tiny pill or because ur thirsty. You can easily buy one from the supermarket next door, yet don't want to spend $1 to buy a bottle. And they can't wait to go home to swallow it - they MUST do it right here. I'm not stingy, its just so annoying ppl coming in asking for it then having a go at me for not providing it. 

Another thing is I don't want to sit next to a tap and manually refill ppl's cup with free water .. I just got better things to do. 

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