Ramoncito Gabriel Paragas, A young pharmacist dedicated to impact his community
By Teresa May B. Bandiola
Ramoncito Gabriel Paragas, largely known as “ Gab” was enrolled into the world of pharmacy as a fresh high school graduate from a small town in Pangasinan, a province in the northwestern Philippines. He did his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in 2011 and became a registered pharmacist five years later. He is currently pursuing Master of Public Health at the University of the Philippines (UP)-Manila where he also obtained an elective credit in Health Economics, a joint course with the University of California–Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health.
When exactly did you realize that you need to get involved with community?
I had already full dedication to the pharmacy practice by the time I was completing my hospital internship program in undergraduate, at the country’s national general hospital in Manila, where majority of marginalized Filipino people are expected to seek for medical help. It was there where I witnessed the inequity in the country’s health care system. There, I could see exceptionally poor patients who would come all the way from their distant provinces for a better health care service in the country’s capital. Seeing patients’ condition that have gone worse and could have been prevented if only given initial and proper care. By that time I had fully realized the significance of pharmacists in the communities, especially in rural areas.
Now, as the inaugural president of a Young Pharmacists Group (YPG) Chapter in the Philippines, what has been your implementation focal point?
I began a project in September 2017 that focused on educating community residents regarding their medications in small villages in their province, especially those in remote locations where there is only limited access to health care. The project was known as PharmaCARES (Counsel, Advocate, Respond, Equip, Serve) were we payed visit to five provinces and worked with community leaders and residents. In October 2017, in the same community, with YPG-Pangasinan Chapter we continued the project inviting every household for a townhall open air seminar on the use of OTC drugs.
How did you see the reception of such project in that community?
First of all it was an opportunity to clarify the misconceptions about OTC drugs and correct their misuse. The project became also a good platform to the community to ask questions concerning drug information from professionals.
We keenly observed during the visit that social and environmental factors are big players for residents to adhere to medications whether prescribed or OTC.
What value does your community outreach programs add to the pharmacy profession?
I believe that communities realize that pharmacists are also part of health care, that we are not only found behind counters in pharmacies and that we are blessed with the noble knowledge about medicines that, in turn, when used properly, can save lives. This household provision of information is accompanied by other basic services such as blood pressure check-up performed by other health care volunteers who joined us.
Recently, as the founding adviser of PharmaCARES that targets three components: health, environment, and livelihood, Gab co-commissioned a community-based study with their students to create anti-fungal soap from water hyacinth (Eicchornia cressipes) to provide livelihood to the people of Barangay Mabalbalino where they previously conducted their community services. Water hyacinth is a common weed in the rivers of the village that, according to fishermen, in areas where there is much water hyacinth infestation impacts water flow killing wildlife such as fish. The product is currently at the pre-formulation phase that targets to be available by 2020.
What challenges that you are facing as president of YPG-Pangasinan?
I feel humbled and honored to be part of this organization. Every day is a constant battle to be reminded why I joined and how to empower young pharmacists in Pangasinan to catalyze change in their respective communities.
Our first tagline in my term was #CatalystsForChange. Catalysts are entities that hasten the progress of a reaction but are not consumed in the process. To be honest, it’s easy to get consumed in the process. Your ideals will be shaken and your vision for the practice will be tested, not only by people outside the organization. What matters, however, is that you keep yourself grounded in the heartset: to empower pharmacists to empower lives. I am always hoping that one day, what we do in YPG-Pangasinan will inspire others to go outside their comfort zones and catalyze change for the center of our practice: our patients.”
Before his term ends as president of YPG-Pangasinan Chapter on July 2019, Gab hopes to conduct an inter-chapter, inter-regional assembly or project with nearby YPG chapters in the northern Philippines, especially on non-communicable diseases like hypertension, which is prevalent in the region.
What is your short message as we wind up our conversation?
(With a sincere smile) I want to leave making sure that the next generation will have a smoother run. I want to leave with clear policies that listen to the needs of pharmacists. My message to the next president of the organization is… The hardest decision that you will make in your term as a leader is to choose to “continue.” Continue even if no one will believe in your advocacies, even if you get little to no support. Continue to do what’s right in the face of pressure. While you can not always push for the good things you want to do, be okay with the fact that you can’t do everything. Our profession is a worthy cause. Our patients are a worthy cause. So continue.”
