Dr. Patrick Ojo brought to light the reality of the pharmaceutical industry in this provocative book that advocates for their recognition and place in the limelight.
The pharmacy field is a vital part of the medical industry. Pharmacists are more than just healthcare professionals who prepare, handle and dispense medications. Their responsibility is to make sure the safety of their patients, that their patients are adequately educated about the medicine administration, usage, and interaction, and to ensure the sufficient supply and movement of standard quality medicines in their community. Dr. Patrick Ojo is one of the voices that reach out to the world on behalf of the plight of the pharmaceutical industry and its workers, as presented in his book Pharmacy in Bondage.
For the author, more attention should be given to pharmacists because their role is not a mere subjugation of the other medical branches. Their role is aligned and equal with the rest of the medical profession and institution.
All About the Author
Born and raised in Benin City, Nigeria, Africa, Dr. Patrick Ojo clearly had his name etched in the field of medical science. As a primary student, he attended the Benin Baptist Model Primary School. He moved on to Evboneka Grammar School and Eghosa Grammar School for his high school years before getting a degree in college for chemistry at the University of Ife, Ile-Ife.
Dr. Ojo briefly taught at the Government Girl’s College Ngelzarma, Borno State, as Assistant Head of the Science Department and was Head of the Science Department of Oghada Grammar School, Edo State, before migrating in 1988 to the United States.
While in the United States, Dr. Ojo worked with the New York City Department of Homeless Services as a caseworker while attending Long Island University, College of Pharmacy, Brooklyn, New York, for his degree in pharmacy. In 1997, the author moved to Florida, where he practiced pharmacy.
He later enrolled for his Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Some of his practices include places such as the Winn-Dixie Pharmacy and North Shore Hospital, Miami, including a closed compounding prescription pharmacy, a correctional prison facility pharmacy, and an institutional pharmacy.
Eye-Opener
During these practice years, Dr. Ojo began to see the realities of the pharmaceutical industry and the predicament experienced by pharmacists. In his book Pharmacy in Bondage, Dr. Ojo accurately described pharmacy as a medical field, including the shortcomings and lack of recognition the field experienced. This book represents the author’s experience as he traveled the world (China and India in Asia, Nigeria in Africa, Australia, the UK and France in Europe, Brazil in South America, and the US in North America). He saw the same issue reverberated by other countries – that pharmacy should not be treated as an “errand boy” of different medical fields. The field should be treated equally and recognized for its crucial role in healthcare.
Dr. Ojo further emphasized that pharmacists have more to contribute to society than merely administering, dispensing, and distributing medicines and health and medical supplies. Pharmacists have to undergo the same rigid training as doctors, so should their profession be looked up to and respected in the healthcare system.
Aside from the management and administration of medication, there’s also the communication and counseling aspect that gets thrown into the mix as pharmacists handle their patients. Communicating with the patients is vital since pharmacists are tasked with ensuring that their patients know and understand their medications, the dosage or intakes, and any possible side effects or adverse reactions.
Counseling comes in the form of helping patients prepare for what they are to expect upon taking the medication. Counseling also includes sharing advice and tips on how to counter or treat side effects and being there to listen empathetically to their patients’ concerns.
Dr. Patrick Ojo’s book is an eye-opener for the whole medical science industry. It started and pushed the urgent call for pharmacy recognition and will continue to do so for years and years to come. Feel the need to advocate for pharmacists and show them the love and support they deserve. Grab a copy now of Pharmacy in Bondage on Amazon, or visit the author’s website at www.liberatepharmacy1.com.
