Saya Shiraishi (Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3rd Year *at the time)

This year, I had the opportunity to participate in the Thai Pharmacy Experience program. Through this program, I was able to have a variety of experiences, such as thinking deeply about the medical systems and pharmaceutical education in Japan and Thailand, becoming friends with the Thai students, and having them take me to tourist spots in Thailand. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who worked so hard to make this program possible.

As I belong to the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, I had not taken much interest in or researched the work of pharmacists and medical professionals in Japan, let alone the medical system in Thailand, before participating in this program. However, through preliminary studies and on-site learning, I was able to learn about the differences in the medical systems of both countries. What particularly surprised me when I visited the local medical facilities was that pharmacists were regarded as far more important than in Japan. In Japan, pharmacists mainly work in dispensing pharmacies, drugstores, and hospitals, but in Thailand, there are facilities called community pharmacies. These are local pharmacies created to avoid overcrowding in hospitals, where pharmacists can dispense medicine to patients even without a doctor's prescription. Pharmacists were also working for the health of the local community, for example, by distributing free folic acid supplements for pregnant women and supporting smokers in their efforts to quit. Furthermore, on-site, we were able to observe pharmacists in a pharmacy affiliated with the hospital as they received prescriptions, prepared the medication, and gave it to patients, and we also toured a floor dedicated to clinical trials. By hearing from the people actually working there, I was once again struck by the weight of responsibility not only for pharmacists but for all medical professionals, and it was a sobering experience.

During this program, I was also able to interact a great deal with the students from Khon Kaen University. Even though it was their exam period, they took me to various places, including an authentic night market, a popular local barbecue restaurant, temples, and streets popular with young people, allowing me to fully experience the charm of Khon Kaen. On the last night, we also had a memorable time exchanging local specialty products from our home countries as souvenirs and listening to a live performance of traditional Thai music. Even after returning to Japan, whenever I see the social media of the people I met there, I am encouraged by the feeling that I have many friends who are also studying hard as students in the same Faculty of Pharmacy.

Although the time I spent in Thailand was short, only about a week, I was able to have a great many experiences through my studies, including the preliminary learning, and my interactions with the local people. For me, who had no prior experience with studying abroad, even taking lectures in English for many hours was a first-time experience. However, with the support of those around me, I was able to proactively learn and think about many things. In closing, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for being given such a valuable opportunity.