For the past few months, this certain leading drugstore has been asking ladies who buy oral contraceptive pills (1) if they have been using the OCP for some time already, and (2) to bring the prescription next time.
The first time I encountered this, was at a mall in Ermita, Manila. This female pharmacist asked the same things from me, but seemingly more judgmental than the next times I bought from the other branches. It felt like she was disapproving of women who use OCP because of the way she looked at us (there were two of us buying OCPs at that time), and the way she handled our orders.
I was thinking, what the heck does this person know about me to treat me like trash just because I was buying a box of OCPs? I mean it's not that I use it for its actual purpose. I use it because I have PCOS, and OCPs are used to somehow treat it, and she should know that because she is a freaking pharmacist.
Sorry for the rant. Anyway, I decided to never buy my pills from that branch ever again. After all, their service is so slow that you have to stand there for about 30 minutes just to get your order taken. But that's another story.
The following times I just bought OCPs in a mall at North EDSA. Both times a male pharmacist handled my order, asked the same things, but without the judgmental-slash-disapproving look in their faces.
It's still disturbing though, that they ask those things when the drug is supposed to be over-the-counter. My OB did not even give me a prescription because it is OTC. It bothers me that other people have to hear what I answer when the pharmacists ask, "Matagal na po bang ginagamit?" (Have you been using this for some time already?) and then they never ask for what purpose. Whenever I experience this, I get certain looks from people at the drugstore. Every time I buy my pills now, I get anxious. It's torture.
Does anybody know why this drugstore is doing this?
