Trouble is again brewing in the health sector with the island's pharmacists now said to be extremely restive.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica (PSJ) has served notice that it is preparing to intensify its opposition to the poor conditions facing its members attached to public health facilities.
Government-paid pharmacists are planning to wear black Tuesday, as a sign of protest.
Falling standards
Among other things they have expressed grave concern about the shortage of pharmacists, poor working conditions and inadequate remuneration.
In addition, the PSJ is drawing attention to the need to observe local laws and international standards, the improper use of pharmacy technicians to dispense medication, and the need for one standard of pharmacy practices across the public and private sectors.
President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica, Valerie Germain, says the group is preparing to take additional steps to draw attention to these problems.
“We're advocating, and we will continue to advocate for this, we will plan other strategies as we go along but we are expecting that good sense will prevail and the Ministry of Health will look at the issues,”
“We are always ready and willing to speak with the Minister of Health, but we will not accept the poor level of standards to care for the patients because at the end of the day it is the Jamaican public who suffers,” said Valerie Germain, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica.
Black Tuesday
She says private sector pharmacists will also be wearing black Tuesday in solidarity with their colleagues at public health facilities.
And the shortage of pharmacists in the public sector is worsening.
Mrs. Germain says more than 100 vacancies now exist.
However, according to the PSJ President, persons are shunning the posts because of the low pay.
“There are approximately 150 posts and about 45 are filled. Persons prefer to work in the private sector where there are standards, where there is supervision, where the Pharmacy Council regulates the practice. In the public sector the standards are not upheld at all so persons do not want to work in the public sector and we want the Ministry of Health to understand the real reason for the shortage of pharmacists,” she said.
Positive developments
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry says there have been positive developments in the pharmacy service of the public health sector.
In a release, Health Minister Rudyard Spencer pointed to negotiations with the Finance Ministry to secure an increase in sessional rates, the training of pharmacy technicians to satisfy the ratio of one pharmacist to three technicians, and the moving of pharmacy services under the technical services division.
Drafting instructions have also been issued to include pharmacists under the Pharmacy Act.
According to Mr. Spencer, the integration of the Health Corporation and the National Health Fund should introduce private and public partnerships that will ease crowding at health facilities, and improve access to pharmaceutical items.
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