Despite the risk of retaliation, pharmacists and technicians at major drugstore chains in the United States are standing up for safer working conditions. If pharmacy workers are not safe, patients’ ability to get the medicines they need is compromised. Pharmacy workers at CVS and Walgreens have staged walkouts in several states this fall, including a September walkout in Kansas City, Missouri, which forced at least 12 CVS pharmacies to close.
There are stories of overworked pharmacists and understaffed facilities. The conditions are so bad, that it can be difficult for staff to safely fill prescriptions.
And prior authorization nightmares? Pharmacies are a battleground often overlooked in the war between doctors and insurance companies.
According to leaders of the movement, this is “Pharmageddon”, and we may be seeing turning point for pharmacists and technicians—professionals who are fed up after years of burnout and a lack of support from the big-chain pharmacies that employ them. Last week, a formal unionization effort was announced by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and pharmacy labor activists.
What is the impact of recent highly-publicized walkouts? Will unionization efforts make a difference?
What’s really going on behind the counter?
Join me for a live conversation later today, Wednesday, November 15 at 12:30 p.m. ET with Shane Jerominski, PharmD, a pharmacist and advocate on the frontlines of “Pharmageddon.”
How to watch: Follow @MedPage on Instagram, and join the Live starting at 12:30pm.
What are your questions? Chime in below in the Comments section…
I've seen a significant increase in both errors at the individual level and glitches at the system level in the last couple of years at my local Walgreens. Thank you for taking us "behind the counter" for a better understanding of this important issue.