Why are there so many chemist's in Poland?

29.11.05, 14:37
I'm sure there's a reason, but is it a good one?
    • varsovian Re: Why are there so many chemist's in Poland? 29.11.05, 14:40
      They are waiting for the big chains to arrive and then they will have a real
      opportunity to complain about something.
      • ianek70 Re: Why are there so many chemist's in Poland? 29.11.05, 14:53
        varsovian napisał:

        > They are waiting for the big chains to arrive and then they will have a real
        > opportunity to complain about something.

        Hmm. Hadn't thought of that.
        When cheap medicines arrive in Poland, half the country'll immediately OD on
        cough syrup and painkillers.
        • nasza_maggie Re: Why are there so many chemist's in Poland? 29.11.05, 15:25
          haven't you noticed that, that is what they're doing already?
          I mean, how many medicine adverts do you see during 3 minutes on tv (especially
          in winter). A nation of hypochondriacs, as far as I'm concenred.

          My aunt works in an apteka in a town where there is a population of rouchly
          4,000. There are 3 chemists!
          It takes roughly 2 minutes to drive thru the whole town, on the main street
          running thru it!
          • varsovian Re: Why are there so many chemist's in Poland? 29.11.05, 15:30
            nasza_maggie napisała:

            > haven't you noticed that, that is what they're doing already?
            > I mean, how many medicine adverts do you see during 3 minutes on tv
            (especially
            >
            > in winter). A nation of hypochondriacs, as far as I'm concenred.
            >
            > My aunt works in an apteka in a town where there is a population of rouchly
            > 4,000. There are 3 chemists!
            > It takes roughly 2 minutes to drive thru the whole town, on the main street
            > running thru it!
            >
            > So that's why you are such a prolific writer on the net - nothing going on in
            the street. Still, I commute to Warsaw and the place I live in is just as
            exciting as yours. 3 chemists, eh? A veritable metropolis!
            • nasza_maggie Re: Why are there so many chemist's in Poland? 29.11.05, 15:33
              no no! my aunt lives theresmile Although it is a preety place just outside Warsaw
              I'm just lucky enough to visit once in a whilesmile
              • varsovian Re: Why are there so many chemist's in Poland? 29.11.05, 15:47
                nasza_maggie napisała:

                > no no! my aunt lives theresmile Although it is a preety place just outside Warsaw
                > I'm just lucky enough to visit once in a whilesmile

                Oh God, am I the only one who doesn't live in the big smoke?
                • nasza_maggie Re: Why are there so many chemist's in Poland? 29.11.05, 15:55
                  not everyone can afford to live outside it!smile
          • russh Re: Why are there so many chemist's in Poland? 29.11.05, 16:34
            And I thought it was only my lot!

            My 'other half' is Polish, and as I've said before, I don't manage to get out
            much; but the trips to the apteka are the daily (slight exaggeration) highlight.

            In the UK, the medicine cupboard (an old shoe box) was full of paracetamol (the
            morning after the night before) and plasters (I did lots of DIY).

            Now, I'm considering getting into business as an Apteka; or even better a
            pharmaceutical wholesaler! There's no more room in the house, but the stiff
            still keeps arriving. Is there an Apteka's Anonymous in Poland?
            • varsovian Re: Why are there so many chemist's in Poland? 29.11.05, 16:44
              The whole world is hypochondriac (how do you spell that?).
              The Brits aren't. We're the weirdos. Stuff the fact that pills don't help
              that much, you should buy the little buggers to boost the economy. Vitamins
              are a load of crud too (excl. B6 and B12 plus folic acid, now don't go on
              drinking that milk - don't you realise it is terrible for you, esp men as it is
              a major cause in prostate cancer worldwide, whereas really dark chocolate when
              eaten together with brazil nuts increases your libido unless you've got nut
              allergies but then again brazil nuts aren't really nuts, and are you getting
              enough omega 3 and 6, but you have to get them in the right proportions
              otherwise it's baaaad news, and a friend of mine had Hodgkins and an incredibly
              low blood count but his mother read in the Reader's Digest about shark fin oil
              boosting your blood count so he started taking it and immediately got back to
              normal ... can I breathe now please?)
              I'm not paranoid!
            • nasza_maggie Re: Why are there so many chemist's in Poland? 29.11.05, 16:47
              russh napisał:


              > Now, I'm considering getting into business as an Apteka; or even better a
              > pharmaceutical wholesaler! There's no more room in the house, but the stiff
              > still keeps arriving. Is there an Apteka's Anonymous in Poland?

              If your family need 'Aptekas Anonymous' then my lot, especially the older lot
              need a 'Radio Maryja Anonymous'smile

              Seriously, Poles do love their medicine. I have no idea exactly why. Maybe the
              advertising is so agressive? Maybe older people have a lower sense of security
              here and it's gives them the feeling of protection? (ok, maybe a little too
              philosophical but stilll)
              Maybe it because of Chernobyl?

              I have this feeling, that this fabulous nation seems to want to grab everything
              with both hands a.s.a.p because someone might come and 'take it away' from
              them. It must be the history..
              • ianek70 Re: Why are there so many chemist's in Poland? 29.11.05, 16:54
                nasza_maggie napisała:


                > I have this feeling, that this fabulous nation seems to want to grab
                everything
                >
                > with both hands a.s.a.p because someone might come and 'take it away' from
                > them. It must be the history..

                It's the same with bananas.
                All major Polish stations have at least a dozen stalls or shops with huge piles
                of bananas outside them. If you ask Poles why they like bananas so much, they
                say it's because there didn't use to be any.
                "Yes," you say impishly (having already asked 400 people and thus knowing the
                answer), "but why do you like them SO MUCH?"
                "Because in the old days, there WEREN'T ANY."
                • nasza_maggie Re: Why are there so many chemist's in Poland? 30.11.05, 00:39
                  Ian that is true indeed, and I will tell you maybe some day about my own banana
                  experience which preety much applies to your story.
              • kylie1 Re: Why are there so many chemist's in Poland? 29.11.05, 20:45
                Well, we have plenty of pharmacists in Canada and I think there are three good
                reasons for that that I can think of:

                1. They are very well paid
                2. Big pharmaceutical companies are famous for offering big employee benefits
                like leave,compensation packages and many other little perks, such as on-site
                fitness and exotic trips around the world. Who doesn't like that?
                3.They monitor the use of over the counter drugs that ARE still over the
                counter but might not be down the road: I am talking about Advil, Motrin,
                Nuprin, Ibuprofen - why? Because they are used to make crystal meth and it's
                very simple to set up a home lab and have this drug made right at home.
                Recognition, awareness, and safety is very important when selling drugs. For
                that raeson pharmacists work closely with authorities and there is a strong
                recognition and awareness on safety of crystal meth and other street drugs.

                Could that apply to Poland?

                smile
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