Pharmacists step up action over staff shortages

Government pharmacists will not accept e-mails that do not concern supplies and will ignore all pneumatic tube communication from Thursday in light of their protest against staff shortages.

The pharmacists were last Friday ordered to work to rule by the Union Ħaddiema Maqgħudin, which said the directive will not be lifted until the Health Division presents its counterproposals. The union has now decided to apply more pressure, after the division failed to present them.

A spokesman last week said they were working at half capacity and proposals had been submitted to the government in January.

The Social Policy Ministry said the present situation was simply the result of "having difficulty filling the existing vacancies".

Under the new directive, the telephone service will be kept up in emergency situations, such as a drug overdose. However, calls for information will not be taken.

While pharmacists will still provide medicine and assist the public, any management or administrative meetings will not be attended and the staff will not go out of their way to perform additional duties.