Pharmacists back on the job

Dispensaries at Port-of-Spain General Hospital, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope and Chaguanas reopened for service yesterday as North West Regional Health Authority (NW-RHA) pharmacists were back on the job after staying away for two days (Thursday and Friday) last week. Health Minister John Rahael told Newsday yesterday the Human Resource Department of the NWRHA has been mandated to expeditiously deal with the issues raised by pharmacists. RHA pharmacists are seeking enhanced terms and conditions of employment.

Representatives of the RHA pharmacists are scheduled to meet with the senior vice president of human resources, Yolande Selman, along with a team from the Industrial Relations, and Employment and Employee Services Departments tomorrow. Danielle Jones, NWRHA communications officer, said discussions began in January on a range of issues including remuneration, classification and structure. She said only one meeting on August 4 had been rescheduled, and this was to allow the NWRHA adequate time to deal with the pharmacists’ concerns highlighted at the July 12 meeting. Jones said the HR Department was in the process of finalising a detailed proposal encompassing suggestions from the pharmacists and NWRHA human resources team. It will be submitted to the Board for approval.

Aspects of the proposal include: competitive salary package, incentive allowance similar to that offered to staff falling into similar scarce categories (eg nurses), travelling allowance for pharmacists and training and development opportunities. Jones said the process of reclassification was ongoing. “The issue of reclassification of pharmacists is engaging the attention of employees representative and the Office of the Chief Personnel Officer. Any benefits of these discussions will affect pharmacists employed throughout the region.” She said the “structure” proposed by the pharmacists was encompassed into the proposal being prepared for consideration by the executive management. “The newly proposed structure allows for adequate succession planning as well as upward mobility,” Jones said.