'As many pharmacists as possible' to be employed

"As many pharmacists as possible" will be employed with the Health Division to fill vacancies at the hospital and other sectors, according to a spokesman for the Health Division.

The spokesman told The Times the pharmacists would be deployed according to the needs of the various sectors.

A call for applications is expected to be issued within weeks, he said, adding there are 37 vacancies within the division and 25 pharmacists are due to complete their course in July. The Union Haddiema Maghqudin said the problems faced by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in state pharmacies had been discussed with the Health Division.

When contacted, union health services section secretary Joseph Bonello said there was need for support staff, especially at St Luke's Hospital pharmacy.

About 500 people collected medicines from hospital daily, putting pressure on the 20-odd pharmacy staff members.

Moreover, he continued, pharmacists and technicians who were doing other work sometimes had to help out with the distribution of medicines.

"They are so tired they have refused to do overtime," he said.