When Ms Amalina Nur Dhaniah, 30, returned to her pharmacy technician job last year after taking a one-year hiatus to help in her family’s catering business, she found employment with Woodlands Health Campus (WHC).

WHC broke ground in April 2017 as the first integrated health campus in Woodlands that comprises an acute hospital, community hospital, specialist outpatient clinics and long-term care facility.

As WHC is slated to open in phases in Woodlands Avenue 1 from 2022, Ms Amalina is currently stationed at the outpatient pharmacy at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Yishun.

She tells us more about her job:

How would you describe your typical workday?
We perform a variety of daily tasks such as picking and packing medications, typing prescriptions into the documentation system and dispensing simple medications to patients. If required, we also help to issue queue numbers to patients and assist pharmacists by performing simple interventions such as clarifying medication orders and handling simple enquiries.

What are some interesting experiences you’ve had?
Patients who are understanding motivate me to persevere through the shift when the outpatient pharmacy is overcrowded and patients experience longer waiting time.

When I dispensed medications to patients in the hospital wards in the past, it warmed my heart when patients offered me a seat by their bedside. 

I was also moved when patients showed concern for me during the Ramadan season. 

How does technology play a role in your job?
Technology allows patients to order or refill their medications via an app. Other new initiatives such as the collection of medications from lockers or through home delivery have also reduced
the number of patients visiting the pharmacy and this has reduced waiting time.

This means that I now have more opportunities for meaningful communication with patients through assisting pharmacists to dispense medications and provide medication counselling.

In this era of technology, patients may rely on the Internet for information pertaining to their medications, which may be inaccurate or cause undue panic. After we clear their doubts,
patients are more assured and appreciative of our efforts. This gives us the job satisfaction as part of the pharmacy team.