Drug stores in the province are having a tough time finding pharmacists and they’re calling on government to implement measures to fill the void.
The Pharmacists Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (PANL) did a survey of their members last year and found and the province is short by about 100 druggists.
They recommend an increase in the pharmacy school class size and an improvement in the contract offer for those pharmacists working in hospitals and clinics and represented by the Association of Allied Health Professionals. Contract talks between that group and the employer have stalled.
Dr. Kara O’Keefe, a PANL board member, says one way to address the shortage would be to find a way to integrate internationally-trained pharmacists into the system.
She says the province has many in that category who are unable to work in their chosen profession because of numerous types of barriers. O’Keefe would like to see a system designed to accommodate internationally-trained pharmacists in Newfoundland and Labrador.
