Interview with Bryan S. Posadas — National Program Manager of Immunizing Pharmacist Certification Program
By Lizette Kaye Aslarona, RPh, PharmD
Bryan Posadas is currently affiliated with the Philippine Pharmacists Association (PPhA). He is the national program manager of PPhA pharmacy-based immunization program. He just recently joined the British Cambridge College as their Program Director for Pharmacy.
A Call to Action
“If we do not feel the sense of urgency of the program, then there is no desire in continuing it.”
Initially, Mr. Posadas is not part of the immunization program for pharmacists when it was established in 2014–2015. His focus was more on lobbying the Pharmacy law. Amidst the pandemic, he was also re-elected as an officer of PPhA as the chairman of the Advocacy Committee.
Previous months before the pandemic, the PPhA gathered to discuss the status of the initial plans for the immunization program. As he was not in the original team, Bryan mentioned that he helped the team jump start the existing program on time, before the pandemic hit the Philippines.
Gray Areas
Legal
Challenges are always present, but without a challenge, it is not a journey. One of the team’s legal challenges in launching the program was, “who should be certifying who?” The team rigorously consulted different organizations and government sectors to clarify this question. A tough question to ask, the team was able to find the answers, as Bryan said, “We go back to the law.” Briefly, in RA 10918, the Professional Regulation Commission is involved in regulating such program.
Capacity
“How can we train pharmacists in this time of pandemic in improving their skills when you are not face to face?”
The capacity of the training program and acquiring requirements such as Basic Life Support (BLS) were also questioned. In this time of pandemic, restrictions in gathering details, face-face meetings are limited. Initially, the program was proposed to be only two levels. Considering other case scenarios, the team came up with innovative solutions by including additional levels in the program.
Acceptance
“In some areas, pharmacists are still not accepted.”
It has been a long battle for the pharmacist to change the image of “tindero at tindera ng gamot.” The team closely collaborated with government sectors and successfully included pharmacists as COVID-19 vaccinators. Mr. Posadas believes this could be the start of revamping the image of pharmacists in the Philippines, especially in the communities.
“When you want to create a perception, a pharmacist needs to be visible in all aspects— they should be visible in the vaccination program. So when the time comes when vaccines are readily available in drugstores, our patients will not have any doubts.”
Driving Factors
“We won’t resolve the perception that we are just “tindero and tindera” if we keep on doing the same things. People should feel us.”
A majority of pharmacists in the Philippines are working in the community. Bryan mentioned that, “If we can change the perception of community pharmacists, we can change the entire perception of pharmacists.”
In our current practice, pharmacists are likely seen as salespersons of drugs, behind the counters, doing mostly inventory and checking prescriptions.
“When you run for a position in an organization, you do not go for the title, but rather go for the impact. I can have all the titles, but it is about the impact you make. Actions during your leadership create an impact in your organization. This is why I am part of this program and pharmacy law. I ask myself this, ‘how will you be remembered as an officer?’”
As Mr. Posadas mentioned, he wanted to create an impact in leading others. He values that everyone can make an impact. Everyone can be a leader.
“When you let others shine, you have more leaders. We can achieve more.”
Contribution and Importance
“We have to help our community for us to get back to normal.”
As we are all put on the brink of a war, soldiers are needed more than ever. Bryan believes pharmacists are needed in the vaccination program not just to change the pharmacist’s image, but to help our fellow countrymen in these difficult times. In the immunization program, pharmacists can also help build relationships with their patients, promote preventive care, and call for action to address the significant gaps in adult immunization in the Philippines. This will lead to a better access to vaccines in the future.
In the future of pharmacy practice, Mr. Posadas sees more incoming immunizers as he also talked about how it will be incorporated into the undergraduate curriculum of Pharmacy. He even mentioned that it would turn into a basic skill that future pharmacists will acquire. He also clarified that the certification is not permanent. However, it will be a continuous certification to cater pharmacists who are willing to be immunizing pharmacists.
What is your message to our young Filipino pharmacists?
“Young Pharmacists, this is the future of the pharmacy profession, you can be a part of it, or you can stay with the status quo and get left behind.”
