Long line in the pharmacy
By Alex Socorro
@Alexandoy (65308)
Cainta, Philippines
March 31, 2020 2:41am CST
Yesterday we had to buy medicine. Our housemaid had to fall in line outside the pharmacy as can be seen in the picture. She was #10 in the line and it took her 21 minutes before she got to enter. But inside there's another line although a
short one of only 3 to 4 customers. The guard said that every day the line is long. I wonder if that is due to the lockdown or many are getting sick.
27 people like this
27 responses
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
31 Mar 20
Sometimes it really becomes necessary for us go to a pharmacy and it cannot be helped because medicines are an essential. The longer a person stays there in my opinion the riskier it becomes because the other people who are there are either sick or has somebody sick in their household, we will never know what they are there for.
3 people like this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
@hereandthere yes, there is a need for the quarantine pass. I don't have that because I am already a senior.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
@louievill yes, that is more likely the case of customers that there is someone in their house who is sick.
2 people like this
@Behindtheguitarbar (2831)
• Guangdong, China
31 Mar 20
oh, that's not so convenient as before. Here previously those days, we had to make an appointment to buy the medicine we need.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
What do you mean appointment, you call the pharmacy for your order and you get the schedule of delivery?
@Behindtheguitarbar (2831)
• Guangdong, China
31 Mar 20
@Alexandoy yes, we need to make the reservation of medicines we need.
1 person likes this
@Behindtheguitarbar (2831)
• Guangdong, China
31 Mar 20
@Alexandoy avoiding many people gathering in a place for a long time.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
31 Mar 20
i saw the line outside the supermarket yesterday. i estimate 40 people from the front curving around the corner. i don't know if they were all able to get in. it was already 5:30 and they close at 7 due to the curfew.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
That may be the same number here in the line to the supermarket.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
31 Mar 20
@Alexandoy i saw one female tying a box of groceries at the back of her bicycle when i first passed by. on my way back, she was still there. she tied on ecobag to the handlebar and was tying the other to the crossbar. i don't know how heavy or balanced they will be.
2 people like this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
@hereandthere most of the shoppers I saw coming out with big bags and boxes. It's like they are hoarding.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
31 Mar 20
Yes, the lockdown and delays are probably do to the workers, some places are working short of help.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
So many are out of jobs here due to temporary closure of the companies. But the pharmacy cannot just hire people because it is a specialized product that they are selling.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
@kobesbuddy business is bad so cutting down is the recourse. My suggestion is to make the pharmacy open for 24 hours so the customers would be distributed.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
31 Mar 20
@Alexandoy Yes, but they are cutting back on help, I'm sure.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
31 Mar 20
@Alexandoy
I had to stay outside of our pharmacy because too many were inside. One of the people that works there let us in when we could go inside. I have no idea what it will be like the next time I have to go there.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
No social distancing? That is putting you at risk.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
@Hannihar but that system is wrong. Here, the number of people is controlled inside to observe social distancing.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
31 Mar 20
@Alexandoy
I had a mask on and only so many could be inside. I was fine.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
Yeah, it can be the stress is making people sick.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
@mrki444 it is summer here and the sun is always hot.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
31 Mar 20
Safe to say that they are trying their best to practice social distancing.
Pharmacies need to be open so people can purchase medicines.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
31 Mar 20
@Alexandoy how about the curfew?
Or there isn't curfew in your place?
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
1 Apr 20
@allen0187 they say there is a curfew here from 8 pm to 5 am. But I am not aware since we do not go out by that time.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
I understand the purpose of the long line. But they should find a way to resolve that. Maybe they can be open 24 hours.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
@id_peace those seats are privilege for the seniors.
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
Those seated are seniors and disabled. The regular customers are those standing.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
Those chairs are actually for the seniors and PWD (persons with disability). The line where people are standing are for the regular customers.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342277)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Mar 20
@Alexandoy I didn't realise. They don't really look disadvantaged or very elderly.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
@JudyEv some of the young are representing a senior in the family who cannot go out.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
It looks like the long line in the pharmacy is all over the world. It can only be resolved by the delivery system or the pick up system where you call for your order.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
1 Apr 20
@thelme55 if we have that here then that would resolve the problem of the long line.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (77164)
• Germany
1 Apr 20
@Alexandoy yes, that's true. We will order next time and they can deliver the goods at home.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
The pharmacy that is in the picture has a plastic shield in the counter with a small square hole for the access.
1 person likes this
@Mamerto32 (2783)
• Canlubang, Philippines
31 Mar 20
It's the same in our place, and it's nice for the security to tell us if what we will buy is in stocks or not. Hopefully, they got Berocca in stocks now.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
They have a good system there. What I want is placing the order by phone or via the website. Then go to the pharmacy to pick up.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
Those chairs are for the seniors.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
@CarolDM and also for the disabled customers.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
31 Mar 20
@Alexandoy That is a good idea.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
Thank you for sharing your experience there. It is like a worldwide culture now that we have to fall in line.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121740)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Mar 20
I've got a prescription ready to pick up at my local pharmacy, but I've been putting it off as long as possible because I don't want to wait in the long lines. But I have about a week's worth of pills left on my current prescription, so sometime next week I'm going to have to go wait in line whether I like it or not.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
It is good if we would have that call for ordering and then we pick up. It is not available due to lack of personnel.
1 person likes this
@freelancermariagrace (28690)
• Philippines
1 Apr 20
Glad they're practicing social distancing. However, it's still risky
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
1 Apr 20
According to one medical analyst, social distancing can solve the problem of contamination.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
1 Apr 20
You are right with the lockdown.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
It's like that every day here, long lines to the pharmacy and supermarket.
1 person likes this
@Lavanya15 (12888)
• Chennai, India
1 Apr 20
Because of lock down we see like those situation in all most all places.
Hope soon we get normal life.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
31 Mar 20
I agree and I also hope that this lockdown will not be for long.
