Pharmacy departments in several hospitals fear service disruptions because, as of December 1, they will no longer be able to use pharmacists who act as independent workers.
Starting next week, the provision of the regulation adopted by Quebec in 2023 aimed at limiting the use of independent labor in the health network will come into force.
The Association of Pharmacists of Health Establishments of Quebec (APES) sounded the alarm regarding the implementation of this directive on Wednesday in a press release, particularly due to the lack of pharmacists in several health establishments.
The independent workforce in the hospital environment would largely be made up of “convenience” pharmacists employed by hospitals, who lend a hand during vacations or unpaid leave.
For the APES, these pharmacists are essential to avoid service breakdowns until solutions are put in place.
Pharmacy departments fear finding themselves out of service, given the arrival of this new directive and combined with the entry into office of Santé Québec as the sole employer
“Unrealistic, even far-fetched, solutions are circulating and a few days before the December 1 deadline, no one knows what will happen. Pharmacy departments fear finding themselves out of service. This is particularly the case in Bas-St-Laurent and on the North Shore,” declared pharmacist and general director of APES, Linda Vaillant.
APES has called on the government to apply a “moratorium” on the regulation relating to independent labor, in order to secure pharmaceutical services for patients.
“This will give the parties time to discuss lasting solutions for pharmaceutical care and services in hospitals,” said Ms. Vaillant.
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