Dispensaries still closed

The allowance, 25 percent of basic salary, was apparently not good enough for the pharmacists who have been agitating for higher salaries for many years.

The North West and North Central Regional Health Authorities were greeted with reports that several pharmacists had called in sick yesterday.

At the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, only two out of seven pharmacists reported for duty, while at the PoSGH five of seven pharmacists were at work.

Communications manager for the North West Regional Health Authority, Danielle Jones, told Newsday that the pharmacists who were working were dealing with the backlog of prescriptions for warded patients, and when this was done they "may" deal with outpatient service.

The sign on the dispensary at the PoSGH which stated that the pharmacy was closed until further notice remained there.

First vice-president of the Public Services Association (PSA), Stephen Thomas, said "no deal. Why should locals train foreigners to take their place in six months?" He insisted that the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) must meet the PSA next week.

Rahael announced the allowance on Thursday after Cabinet’s weekly meeting. It is intended to be an interim increase until the PSA and CPO reach agreement on the reclassification of pharmacists to a higher salary range.

In an interview later that day, Rahael said the allowance was for the pharmacists to do "all that is required." He said this included the supervision of the Filipino pharmacists.

Rahael said it was an achievement to get the Cabinet to agree, but if the pharmacists were unwilling to accept the offer, there wasn’t much more he could do.

Also on Thursday, the PSA accused the CPO of "playing games" since no new proposal was presented at a meeting at the CPO’s office.

The PSA has been adamant that the local pharmacists would not supervise the Filipino pharmacists until their reclassification and other work issues were settled.