Several years ago, Ukrainian pharmacist Mikola Gundarijevs learned the Latvian language, came to Riga and started working as a pharmacist’s assistant at “Mēness Aptieka”. Now he is already his own here. Mikola is knowledgeable, responsive, and when meeting with him, every visitor to the pharmacy receives an interested, friendly attitude and professional advice.
Mikola, where are you from?
I was born and raised in Ukraine, in the Cherkasy region, in the city of Smela, which is located in the Dnieper highlands above the Tyasmin river. You can say that it is in the heart of the country – from my home to Kyiv it is only 198 kilometers. Parents still live there.
What inspired you to become a pharmacist? It seems that not many guys choose this route.
And in what field was Avicenna active? Historically, pharmacy was largely a male occupation. Today, the ancient tradition is returning and more and more guys are choosing this profession. In Europe, this is already a third of all pharmacy specialists, but in the Netherlands, for example, the number of male pharmacists is even slightly more than half.
My story is simple. In high school, I still didn’t really know my future professional path, but I was really fascinated by chemistry – I was lucky to have a teacher who was able to convey the logic, beauty, harmony and meaning of this fundamental science. In addition, my mother is also a chemist by profession and has worked in the chemical industry all her life.
Passion for natural sciences prompted the decision to enter the Zaporizhia Medical University. True, I thought for a long time what to choose – the faculty of medicine or pharmacy. Pharmacy won. Studying was difficult, the workload was huge, but it was so interesting for me that five years of study passed in one breath. After receiving the diploma, I started working in my specialty and now I have 12 years of work experience. I have never regretted my choice. I wake up every morning with the thought that my profession is the most needed in the world.
How was the work progress in Ukraine?
I worked as a pharmacist in various pharmacy companies, I also tried myself in other fields of pharmacy, for example, for some time I performed quality control of medicines entering the warehouse. I liked everything.
In order to diversify my spheres of activity, I went to Finland on summer vacation – I worked in agriculture, growing various vegetables (I’m not afraid of earthwork). When I had the chance, I studied and got to know Finland – it was my break from work.
I always wanted to visit the Baltic countries, especially Latvia. I was probably impressed by my mother’s enthusiasm – she was excited about an excursion to Riga and often shared her impressions of this trip. Father used to go to Riga for spare parts for a motorcycle and also claimed that Latvia is something special.
And you risked moving to Latvia?
In 2016, after talking with potential employers, I flew to Riga from “Mēnes aptiekas”. They didn’t promise me mountains of gold, they only said that I would get a job in a pharmacy and everything else depends on me. For four months, I diligently learned the unknown Latvian language remotely. The benevolent attitude bribed me, strengthened my self-confidence, and that’s how I ended up in Latvia. By the way, my Latvian language teacher and I are now good friends.
At first, I accepted the goods in the pharmacy, arranged them on the shelves. My colleagues treated me so favorably (a big thank you to my first pharmacy in Latvia and its manager Maija Fatejeva!) that I made a firm and conscious decision: I want to live in Latvia. This, of course, meant further language learning, which is still ongoing, and language exams – one, then the next.
How did you manage to learn Latvian?
Like on the mountains – up, down. It was not easy, but little by little I got into it, got used to the Latvian environment, talked with colleagues, new friends – everyone helped and supported me, and it is still like that. I also met my second half in Latvia and got married. The wife is an English teacher, her mother is from Ukraine. Our daughter is already two and a half years old.
And yet – what attracted you to Latvia – a country with a harsher climate than your native Ukraine?
Here there are forests full of blueberries, a berry that I adore. Nowhere else are there as many and as tasty as here. That’s it – a bit of a joke. Latvian nature is truly unique, likes cooler summers than in the southern countries, likes to feel the freshness of the Baltic sea breeze. Everything is to my liking here, including the people who always smile when I meet them.
I wonder if there are any differences in pharmacy work in Ukraine and here in Latvia?
There are no big differences, however, pharmaceutical care is better developed – we pay more attention to each client, personalized treatment, I can devote as much time as necessary to each client. The customer comes first. This is the most important thing in a pharmacist’s work.
It is valuable that every month the company offers training for pharmacists, that we can participate in various professional skills development courses.
How do the needs of pharmacy customers differ in Ukraine and Latvia?
Experience shows that customers and their needs are as diverse as pharmacies. In Ukraine, for example, people like to ask for prescription drugs without a prescription. Sometimes it also happens in Latvia, and I have more to do with it
better solutions. I delve into the person’s problem and, as far as possible, offer some over-the-counter medication that might help. If I understand that medical help is needed, I try to convince you to definitely use it. Usually, customers of the pharmacy agree to go to the doctor, which is especially important in some situations.
What else have I noticed? In my homeland, homeopathy is more popular than I have observed in Latvia. Otherwise, I don’t feel much difference: if a health problem appears, something worries them, most people first go to the pharmacy.
What gives you the most satisfaction in this job?
When a customer comes back and says, “Thank you! The medicine you suggested really helped. Thank you for showing the right way to solve a health problem.”
Of course, the Internet provides the opportunity to find information about both symptoms and diseases, as well as therapy, but there is also a lot of false or incomplete information on the Internet. A person without medical education may not understand this and harm his health by self-medicating. A pharmacist can always provide complete information about specific medicines and explain how they can help, or on the contrary – why this person should definitely not take them. Sometimes you have to resist the urge to use something that is heavily advertised but is definitely not right for that person. It happens that after a conversation I literally persuade a person to go to the doctor.
Working in a pharmacy is interesting because different people with different health problems come every day, and each of them has to be listened to, understood, and assessed. It’s like solving crossword puzzles. A pharmacist is no longer an X-ray, so I always ask the client to describe his symptoms and complaints in as much detail as possible.
Anyway, the basis of everything is communication – I will ask questions, find out as much information as possible and, based on this and my knowledge, I will be able to offer a solution that will be the best for this client. If there is no improvement in the state of health after two to five days, you should definitely consult a doctor.
What would you say to Ukrainians who have found refuge in Latvia today and want to return to the profession of pharmacist?
First of all, the attitude will be friendly and supportive. I recommend visiting the nearest pharmacy and talking to the pharmacists about how their daily work goes. You definitely need to register with the Association of Latvian Pharmacists to get permission to work, and of course you have to be ready to learn the Latvian language.
There are nine specialists in the pharmacy where I work. We work very well together, we are a team and we always try to help each other. We also have a new colleague in our team, a pharmacist from Ukraine, who has been working here for ten months. I am like her curator – I help to solve various questions about visa, insurance, Latvian language courses. I help with everything I can.
What are your future plans Mikola?
Latvia has become my home, I feel good here and for that I want to thank everyone who knows me, including the company’s management and especially my pharmacy staff. I am trying to improve my Latvian language – I read books, watch movies, attend classes, communicate in Latvian. You can say – fully integrated. I am sure that I can also develop professionally. Everything is in my hands.
Text: Ludmila Vevere; Photo: “Latvia has become my home, I feel good here and I am grateful for it,” says Mēnes aptiekas pharmacist from Ukraine Mikola Gundarijevs.
