Vienna was not entirely new to Martina Vrábliková. She had already completed a study stay there while at secondary school. “This time, I was again looking for a German-speaking country. I wanted to return to Vienna because that was where a local chemistry teacher first sparked my interest in pharmacy. Another advantage was Austria’s proximity to Slovakia,” says the Bratislava native.
She eventually chose Adler Pharmacy, where she gradually became familiar with the wide range of tasks pharmacists can carry out. “I mainly assisted with dispensing both prescription and over-the-counter medicines. I also spent a large part of the day in the laboratory working on what is known as compounding – preparing ointments, creams, gels, solutions, essential oils, nasal and eye drops and more complex forms such as suppositories and capsules right on the spot for individual patients. Each day was different thanks to the variety of services the pharmacy provides,” she explains.
During her compulsory placement, she also noticed several differences in how Austrian pharmacies operate. “Some pharmacies have dedicated departments for preparing Chinese medicines. It’s very popular with customers, who often go there for advice on which type of treatment to use. Austrian pharmacies have also preserved the preparation of loose herbal teas, mixed according to specific recipes for various conditions. They use dried plant parts – flowers, leaves, herbs, roots and rhizomes – and their scent would always fill the entire pharmacy. Patients can buy both blends and single-herb teas without a prescription. In addition, the pharmacy produces its own ethanol-based tinctures from these plant materials. Another special service for elderly patients is organising medicines into dispensers according to their medication schedules,” says the student, who will take her final exams this spring. After graduating, she would like to stay and work in Austria, though she is also considering a role in a hospital pharmacy with specialised departments.
In Vienna, she was also struck by the international mix of pharmacy visitors. “Local patients really appreciate being given medicines in their native language, and it makes them more likely to return. Knowing several languages was therefore a big advantage. Austrians value precision and consistency at work, and that was expected of me too. They also care about a healthy lifestyle and cycle in all weather, whether it’s raining or snowing.”
In her free time, Martina Vrábliková enjoyed discovering new places around Vienna and capturing their beauty through photography. She also kept up with her main hobby – music. “In Brno, I continue playing alongside my studies and perform as a violinist in a symphony orchestra. In Vienna, I also had the opportunity to play at several concerts with an orchestra based at the medical faculty of the University of Vienna.”