The Ministry of Health is suspending the entry into force of measures which could have caused disruptions in pharmacy service in several hospitals in Quebec three days before the deadline.
• Also read: Service disruptions anticipated in hospital pharmacies
• Also read: More powers for pharmacists: the bill passed, but still work to do
These changes would have prevented network pharmacists from providing replacement work in other health establishments.
Faced with the shortage of pharmacists in establishments on the North Shore, colleagues in the network have always signed over-the-counter agreements to become “convenience store” pharmacists and lend a hand during vacations or critical periods.
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However, as of December 1, the Ministry of Health and Santé Québec would have prevented an employee of the public network from having double employment. If this measure had been applied, the Havre-St-Pierre and Blanc-Sablon health centers would have had to close their doors due to the lack of pharmacists.
Minister Dubé confirmed Thursday morning that he was reversing course and that a moratorium would be applied for pharmacists. The head of the pharmacy department at the CISSS de la Côte-Nord, Dave Charlton, breathed a sigh of relief because the use of emergency pharmacists is inevitable.
Screenshot / LCN
According to Mr. Charlton, there are currently 16 pharmacists in health establishments while 27 would be needed to just meet basic needs. To alleviate the problem, the Association of Pharmacists of Health Establishments of Quebec is proposing to create a pairing between establishments on the North Shore and others better equipped with pharmacists across the province.
