There is still no solution in sight to the impending medical crunch on Bell Island with two of the three physicians set to leave at month’s end.

The town and health officials have been trying to attract doctors but that effort hasn’t produced any long-term results.

Kara O’Keefe, a pharmacist at Family Drug Mart in Wabana, is very concerned because even though they’re on the doorstep of the metro region, few physicians in that area are taking on new patients.

Currently, they have three doctors but that will be down to one and make it difficult to maintain the current level of service at the cottage hospital.

She says there’s also a nurse practitioner on the island, who does everything that she can.

Pharmacists can extend prescriptions, but sometimes there may be a fee for the patient if the medication is not covered under insurance.