Leaving the Province is likely next Job Action for Pharmacists

Pharmacists will let their Feet do the Talking by Walking

Sue's Blog interivew with Sharon King - spokesperson for the Association of Allied Health Professionals - November 16-06


Sharon King - spokesperson for the Association of Allied Health Professionals says "Pharmacists are more likely to leave than protest on the streets in response to the government's rejection of a request for more competitive remuneration leading to more retention and attraction."

King says the public health care system needs 85 professionals to provide reasonable levels of service - currently there are 63. Although the pharmacists are keeping the system running King states, "We are losing a critical part of our service - the clinical involvement with the patient and their medical team. Our pharmacists are overworked and stressed and this coupled with pay levels - not on par with other jurisdictions - will break the system."

AAHP believes the province is losing a pharmacist on average - every 2 months and King expects this number will increase to one pharmacist every 6 weeks in the new year. "The Clarenville system is currently operating with one permanent pharmacist with one other on sick leave. The remaining individual has already given verbal notice that by December 1st if another professional is not retained her written notice will follow."

King anticipates the Province will lose an additional 3 pharmacists in the Health Sciences Centre, one in Burin - a total of five in all before Christmas.

The spokesperson says the Government has informed the group they will discuss the situation with them when collective bargaining resumes - June of 2008.