Negotiations have hit a snag in renewing the work agreement for institutional pharmacists, prompting calls for intervention from Ministers Christian Dubé and France-Élaine Duranceau to break the deadlock. The Association des pharmaciens des établissements de santé du Québec (A.P.E.S.) is concerned about the stagnant discussions, citing the pressing need to address the shortage of pharmacists in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
The A.P.E.S. emphasizes that with the current situation deemed unsustainable, urgent action is required from the President of the Treasury Board and the Minister of Health to facilitate a quick resolution to the ongoing negotiations. The work agreement with institutional pharmacists lapsed in March 2023, and the A.P.E.S. aims to reach a resolution by Christmas.
Linda Vaillant, executive director of the APES, highlights the impasse in negotiations, underscoring the necessity for ministers to provide negotiators with the mandates needed for substantive discussions. The A.P.E.S. points out that the shortage of pharmacists has persisted for two decades and is now more critical than ever, with a significant number of positions remaining vacant in healthcare institutions.
As of April 1, 2025, 20 percent of pharmacist positions in hospitals, CHSLDs, and seniors’ homes in Quebec were unfilled, representing 379 vacancies. This shortage is exacerbated by the lack of new entrants into the field, as evidenced by the limited number of scholarships offered for master’s studies to become a hospital pharmacist this year.
The A.P.E.S. advocates for solutions to attract more individuals to the profession, proposing the transition of resident pharmacists to employee status to bolster interest in pursuing a career in pharmacy.
