Unacceptable wait at government pharmacy

Last Saturday turned out to be rather chilly and windy. I needed to replenish my prescription so I went to the Paola government pharmacy. I arrived at just gone 9 o'clock, took a ticket from the dispensing machine and waited my turn to be served.

People of all ages have to wait their turn, irrespective of the weather conditions in an open courtyard. Two chemists were serving at any one time all morning. At 11.30 a.m, after waiting for two and half hours, it was finally my turn. So I asked the chemist whether they were working on a "go slow" mode. Lo and behold out of nowhere two other chemists showed up behind her.

She was very offended and implied that she had not had a coffee break all morning. I did not believe her, for one of her colleagues was having just that while I was walking past the cafeteria on my way to the pharmacy. She retorted that they were short staffed. I told her that it took two and half hours for my turn and it was taking exactly 20 minutes per person to be served.

It was undoubtedly clear that keeping people waiting for such a long time was nothing but a ploy. This service is unacceptable! To add insult to injury she did not serve me, implying that I was but five days too early for my prescription. She also had the gall to shout "Next" as if to pay me back for my complaint.