Hospital pharmacists say their counterparts in the private sector are earning nearly $20 an hour more, leading to high vacancy rates in the public sector.

Public sector pharmacists, represented by the Allied Health Professionals, rallied in St. John’s yesterday to draw greater attention to their concerns.

The union says vacancy rates across the province are at 20 per cent, and as high as 75 percent in some hospitals, like Clarenville.

Lorie Carter, who has worked in the hospital system for the last 14 years, says high vacancy rates are leading to burnout for her and her colleagues.

“How are any of our newer pharmacists going to stay when they could walk down the street and make $20 an hour more?” she asked.

She says she’s spoken to pharmacists who would like to work in a hospital setting, but who say a $20 dollar wage gap is too great. “Like who could take that pay cut? Nobody would do that.”