Pharmacists back at work

Service resumed at major health institutions and health centres yesterday, as pharmacists returned to work after being away for two days — Monday and Tuesday. Scores of people who were unable to get their prescriptions filled due to the closure of dispensaries were back waiting for service. The North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) reported a 90 percent attendance from pharmacists and the resumption of service at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Port-of-Spain General Hospital (PoSGH) and Mt Hope Women’s Hospital. At San Fernando General Hospital, the dispensary service was also back to normal. The 15 pharmacists at the hospital (out-patient, in-patient and A and E) were at work.

Newsday learnt yesterday that the meeting between pharmacists and the acting vice president of human resources and other NWRHA officials did not take place at the scheduled time, 9 am. Instead, a meeting took place after 11 am involving the acting chief executive officer, Cynthia Carrington, and pharmacists. Reports are that the meeting did not go well, and a source told Newsday the meeting got “very emotional.” The pharmacists demanded an immediate solution to the shortage of drug supplies, and also expressed the view that the Health Ministry’s Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP) was receiving preferential treatment.

The counter proposals submitted by the NWRHA pharmacists were not discussed, although this was on the agenda for the 9 am meeting. The Health Ministry has called a meeting today with senior Public Service pharmacists and officials of the National Insurance Property Development Company to discuss the supply of pharmaceuticals. The sick-out action surprised the health authorities because last week the Health Ministry issued a release announcing that it hoped to have an enhanced pay package for pharmacists finalised in the next few weeks. This is the result of discussions between the Chief Personnel Officer and officers of the ministry on the reclassification and remuneration of pharmacists in the public health sector.