Pharmacists in health establishments fear a breakdown in service in several regions of Quebec as of Sunday, in the context of the rule concerning the use of independent labor and the entry of Santé Québec as an employer unique to the network.
Until now, certain pharmacists from health establishments, who work in a hospital, went to lend a hand in other health establishments located in less well-resourced regions, in order to provide the service.
“There is a shortage of pharmacists in the health network. A good part of this labor deficit is compensated by other pharmacists who are also employed by the network and who will take vacation days, or unpaid leave, when they can, to go to troubleshoot, therefore act as an independent workforce — as the government calls them — and go help their colleagues all over Quebec, in situations of critical labor shortage,” explained in an interview Wednesday Linda Vaillant, general director of the Association of pharmacists in healthcare establishments.
These pharmacists who help then receive increased remuneration.
However, the regulation on the use of independent labor, which has been in force since October, combined with the entry of Santé Québec as the sole employer of the health network “ensure that “prevent pharmacists employed by hospitals from acting as independent workers in the network, from December 1,” explains the association.
“As of the establishment of Santé Québec, that means from December 1, an individual cannot act as an independent workforce in the health network and at the same time be an employee of the health network. health,” summarizes Ms. Vaillant.
The association, which has 2,000 members, says it has been discussing the issue with the ministry for several months already, in an attempt to find a solution, in vain.
Ms. Vaillant fears that, if necessary, certain regions will be particularly affected: the North Shore, Bas Saint-Laurent, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Abitibi and Outaouais.
As the December 1 deadline approaches, it calls for a moratorium on the application of the new rule, believing that the parties no longer have time to negotiate an alternative solution.
“A month ago, when I contacted the ministry, I told them that we were ready to sit down to discuss it. Nobody got back to us. We arrived there on November 27. So, I think we don’t have time to sit down and talk. That means yes, we are obliged to ask for a moratorium on the regulation regarding institutional pharmacists. I think we are a very small group, but with a major impact there. If there is no pharmacist in the hospital, there is no functioning hospital,” exclaimed Ms. Vaillant.
